Whether in the cemetery, the home garden, or the hiking trails, if you’ve spent much time outdoors this spring you’ve probably noticed the significant annual resurgence of everyone’s least favorite eight legged critter. Tick season can be stressful, but there are several strategies that we can use to make sure that we’re still able to enjoy ourselves outdoors during tick season. Ticks play an important role in a healthy natural ecosystem, as food for the beloved birds and lizards, in providing nutrient transfer from larger animals to smaller ones, and in controlling the populations of dominant large animal species. Climates are trending warmer, and these shorter and less-cold winters are unable to provide much of a check on tick populations. For those of us who spend much of our days outdoors, we’re going to need to continue to build expert-level tick prevention skills. Here are a few important tips to help manage your tick exposure while outdoors in the warm months:
Tuck everything in! Tuck in your shirt, and tuck your pant legs into your socks. This helps keep ticks on the outside of your clothing where they can be more easily spotted and removed.
Wear light colored clothing. Ticks are much harder to see on dark clothes, and finding them is most of the battle!
Check well, check often! If you spend much time in the natural environment, be sure to check for ticks when you get home. Check the full surface of your body with the aid of a mirror, and have someone check your scalp. Change your clothes and shower immediately after returning from any wooded area. As someone who works full time outdoors, I check 3 times each day. I check when I get home, before I go to bed, and each morning before I start my day. This seems like a lot, but if you live or work around lots of ticks, it is required. It is essential to catch a tick early and remove it. If you have gotten a bite, it is best to find and remove the tick within the first 24 hours to reduce risk of disease transmission.
Proper tick removal. If you do discover a latched-on tick, do not attempt to burn it off, do not attempt to squish it, do not treat it with alcohol. Any of these things can increase the risk of disease transmission. Simply grab the tick as close to the head as possible with your fingers or tweezers, and pull it straight out, without twisting. Once removed, flush it!
Bug spray! There are some great plant-based bug sprays available on the market. However, if you are going to be in a tick-heavy environment, consider spraying a DEET or Picaridin-based spray on your shoes, pants, and/or shirt. Remember that these are potentially hazardous compounds, and you should always follow the directions listed on the can to reduce risk.
Periodic testing. If you are predisposed to contacting lots of ticks, you may want to consider getting tested for common tick borne illnesses twice per year. Early detection helps ensure good treatment outcomes.
These are a few common strategies to reduce our tick risk. As naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts, it is our responsibility to become aware of the potential risks posed by a given environment, so that we may more safely enjoy the natural beauty that draws us outdoors. If we employ these techniques and integrate them into our daily routine, we should continue to be comfortable and in our element in the majestic natural environment of Alachua County all year around.
By Kevin Moran, Operations Coordinator
