When the weather gets warmer, the insects get moving. The heat is ripe for creatures like ticks to start showing up in the grass and on you. Here are some ways to prevent ticks from ruining your summer.
With growing deer populations, ticks that carry Lyme disease are more prevalent than ever. When you are out and about enjoying the sunshine, be careful. While Lyme disease doesn’t immediately prove fatal and can resolve itself in most cases given enough time, it can become serious.
Practical Tips to Keep Ticks at Bay
For those who are wondering about ticks, here are some facts. They are actually related to arachnids – spiders. They have eight legs and can be as small as the head of a pin or a sesame seed. Most have round bodies with distinctive markings and small heads.
Ticks do not fly. While this is good news for those who don’t like insects, they still pose a problem. These pesky critters love to hang about in tall grass, on hanging branches, shrubs and other vegetation. When you walk by and brush low-hanging leaves, they simply move on over to you without the slightest interruption.
Now, for the tips:
- Stay on the path – Sticking to the asphalt roads and stone paths of trails can keep your contact with ticks to a minimum. If you must leave the trail, look for areas where the grass is not overgrown for your trek.
- Wear light-colored clothing – Since ticks are so small, they can disappear like a needle in a haystack. White, khaki, beige or pale colors can make seeing these small black dots a lot easier. Ticks are so tiny that they are rarely felt when they transfer to your clothing or skin. The best way to catch them is by visual inspection.
- Wear socks and close-toed shoes – Ticks can hide in places on your body that you don’t think to check regularly: between toes, on ankles, under arms and behind knees. Since it is the lower leg that mostly makes contact with grasses, white socks can keep them away from your feet and also stop them from slipping down into your shoes.
- Wear bug repellent – Ticks won’t want to stay long if you are protected with something that can kill them. Spray your clothing and exposed skin with a bug spray containing DEET. Test a small area of clothing first to be sure that it won’t stain before general application.
- Perform a comprehensive scan of your body – After being outside all day, check over your body as soon as you get inside. Use a mirror of the help of another person to be sure you have not missed any areas.
Summer brings fun but also ticks. Here are some practical ways to keep them away from you.
