In North America, Lyme Disease is on the rise and scientists have a suspicion of why: the tick.
Since the early 2000s, diagnoses of Lyme disease has increased by over three times. With summer approaching, there are a lot more outdoor activities with family, friends, and pets. This is when we start worrying about bug bites, and ticks are close to being the most gruesome of them all. Ticks thrive in tall grassy areas and in the woods. They are most normally found on pets since they brush up against bushes, trees, and tall grass, but they attach to humans as well.
We have some tips from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) to help prevent tick bites and ways you can keep them out of your yard.
Tips for Ticks on Humans:
- Treat your clothing. There are multiple options for treating your apparel to go out into the outdoors. One of the best options is using Permethrin, which is an insecticide for preventing ticks from coming near you. You can also use any other kind of insect repellent to keep them away from you.
- Know ahead of time where to expect the presence of ticks. Ticks are known to live in tall grass and bushes, and even on certain wild animals. If you are going to be around these areas, either try and avoid the possible hot spots or spray yourself with repellent ahead of time.
- When you come inside, check your family immediately for ticks and shower. Right before you come inside, it is recommended that you check your entire body. If you can get into a shower after being around an area that is known for ticks, do it. Taking these steps will help prevent them from being on your body for too long before they become attached.
Tips for Ticks on Pets:
- Talk with your veterinarian. Your vet will know your breed of pet the best and will tell you the best ways to prevent them from getting ticks.
- Purchase flea and tick medicine for your pet. It is a good idea to start your pet on flea and tick medicine in the spring, and repeat application throughout the summer. These are the times where you and your pets will be outside the most and in these grassy areas.
- Check your pets for ticks every day. It is a good idea to check your pet for ticks before they come back inside. Look around their ears, on their head, by their tail, by their toes, and under their collar. This is where ticks are most likely to be found.
Tips for Keeping Your Yard Tick-Free:
- Mow your lawn often. Ticks tend to hide in tall grass areas. Keep your lawn mowed, and trim grass around it to discourage ticks from gathering in your yard. This will help keep them off your pets as well!
- Keep lawn furniture and playground sets away from tall grass. Having lawn furniture out in the summer is so nice – but not when you get infested by bugs and ticks. Keep it on the patio and away from tall grass. The same goes for the playground set; keep it more toward your house and not near the edge if there is tall grass.
- Store wood in a dry area. If you are using wood for bonfires, keep it neat and dry. Ticks like wet wood and attach. Ticks like the wet wood and attach to it easily.
Ticks have been on the rise again this year. It is important that you keep an eye on your pets, children, and even yourself this summer! These are just a few tips on how to do so. For more information about the prevention of ticks, visit the CDC website.
Sources:
Preventing tick bites | Ticks | CDC
Avoiding Ticks | Ticks | CDC
