Warm weather and seasons are perfect for planning outdoor events and activities with family and friends. While people plan fun weekend getaways or parties and grill-outs in the backyard throughout the Spring to the Fall seasons, it is important to be mindful that these seasons are prime time for a fearsome pest, the tick.
Ticks are notorious pests that even the name alone can get the skin to crawl. They can transmit nasty diseases (less than mosquitoes but are pests that thrive alongside them). While tick-borne illnesses typically don’t result in many deaths, they can lead to a lot of pain and suffering with the diseases they carry.
Tick-Borne Diseases
According to the CDC, there are more than 30,000 cases of tick-borne disease reported each year. Babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and Lyme disease are just a few examples of the illnesses caused by tick bites. Symptoms of these tick diseases may not occur for several days after feeding but can last for many years. There’s even a disease they can transmit that leads to the victim developing a serious allergy to red meat. Also, there is a phenomenon called tick paralysis. Some people, and pets, slowly develop paralysis while the tick is feeding. If it is not found and removed it will lead to death, but once removed recovery from the paralysis is almost instantaneous. For more information on tick-borne diseases visit the CDC website.
While all this knowledge sounds scary and intimidating, avoiding ticks and preventing interaction with them is easy with these tips.
Prevent Tick Bites With These Tips
- When venturing outdoors, wear pants and long-sleeve shirts to cover as much of your skin as possible from these blood-thirsty pests.
- Use insect repellent that contains DEET to protect any exposed skin.
- Before returning inside, do a thorough body check for ticks. They like to attach themselves to hidden areas like armpits, waistline, behind the ears, and under hair. Removing a tick just requires a pair of tweezers.
- Maintain your yard. Be sure to keep grass cut, bushes trimmed, and remove clutter such as leaf piles as they can all be prime breeding ground for ticks.
- Dogs will get ticks when they venture into certain areas and bring them back home. If you do have dogs be sure to keep them on a veterinary prescribed tick prevention medication. Also, be sure to regularly examine them for ticks and carefully remove them when found.
- If your yard borders tick infested areas such as a field or wooded area, treating the perimeter of the yard with an appropriate pesticide will help keep them from wandering onto your property. Ask your Terminix professional about this service.
- Wildlife, such as deer, can bring ticks into your yard. Use fencing or other methods to keep them out. Consult with a Terminix wildlife expert for tips on keeping animals out of your yard.
What Should You Do If You Are Bitten By A Tick?
Once the tick is completely removed with tweezers, wash the affected area with antibacterial soap.
Place the tick in a small ziplock bag or pill container along with a note of the date it was removed. Keep the tick in the freezer in case symptoms of an illness begin to occur.
If you begin to experience symptoms such as fever, numbness, muscular or joint pain, chills, or confusion go see your doctor and take the tick with you.
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