It’s an unfortunate reality each spring that just as outdoor activities pick up for humans, tick activity picks up, too.
In an effort to reduce the spread of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, public health experts are once again reminding people to brush up on the basics of tick-bite prevention and removal.
The annual tick-awareness message becomes increasingly urgent each year as warming average temperatures due to climate change have helped ticks thrive and expand their range across the state, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
As ticks’ numbers have increased, so, too, have instances of illnesses like Lyme disease, transmitted by the blacklegged tick (also known as the deer tick). The more recent Michigan arrival of the Lone Star tick, whose bite can trigger an allergy to red meat, is also a growing health concern.
But not all ticks carry diseases, and different pathogens take different amounts of time to fully transmit to a person after a tick bite. For example, the CDC says Lyme disease risk is low if a blacklegged tick has been attached for less than 24 hours, which is why experts recommend checking for ticks daily and removing any attached tick immediately.
Read on for more tick prevention tips:
Avoid ticky-y habitat. Ticks prefer wooded and grassy locations, as well as leaf litter found on undisturbed forest floors. To stay out of their way, don’t stray from trails, stick to the middle of the trail, and avoid brushing up against tall grass or dense brush. To find out where potentially disease-carrying ticks are especially prevalent, see the most recent Michigan Lyme disease risk map.
Be extra vigilant during warmer months. Ticks are most active from April through September, requiring extra precautions during peak outdoor recreation season. It’s worth noting, however, that blacklegged ticks can be active any time there are multiple days in a row above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s important to keep eyes open for ticks on gear or pets during mid-winter warm spells, too.
Wear light-colored, full-coverage clothing. If you are headed into tick territory, wear long sleeves and pants, and tuck your pant legs into your socks to keep ticks from reaching bare skin. Wearing lighter-colored clothing as opposed to darker items makes it easier to find ticks if they are crawling on you.
Use insect repellent, and treat your clothing and gear. Experts recommend using Environmental Protection Agency-registered repellents when headed outdoors (an EPA guide to repellents can be found here). Additionall, the insecticide permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing, backpacks and other gear; permethrin pre-treated clothes are available through various retailers.
Do a tick check after every outdoor outing. After outdoor activity, thoroughly inspect your clothing, shoes, bags and other gear for ticks. Check children and pets for ticks, too. Look carefully: Adult-stage blacklegged ticks are sesame-seed sized, while nymph-stage blacklegged ticks, which are more likely to carry the Lyme disease-causing bacteria, are the size of a poppy seed.
Keep a “tick kit” in your backpack or car. Tick expert Jean Tsao recommends being prepared for any potential tick encounter by assembling a simple kit to keep handy during outdoor recreation. The kit should include EPA-registered tick repellent, a set of tweezers for tick removal, and a small plastic baggie or container to save any tick found attached to the skin for later identification.
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If you are bitten by a tick: Remove the tick gently with fine-tipped tweezers, pulling the tick straight out without squeezing or twisting. If possible, snap a photo of the tick and then, importantly, save the tick in a sealable plastic baggie or container, which can be helpful for ID purposes if you develop any illness symptoms. Wash and disinfect the bite site, your hands, and your tweezers. You can use an app like The Tick App or Tick Encounter to identify the species of tick; free tick identification is also available for Michigan residents through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
More details on tick safety can be found through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
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