Now that the weather is warm and the sunshine is abundant, you are spending plenty of time in the great outdoors. That is wonderful, but there are dangers lurking in the woods and grasslands.
Ticks are very where this time of year, and it is important to protect yourself. If you want to avoid the dangers posed by ticks, you need to know your enemy – and here are some of the most commonly asked questions about these tiny but potentially dangerous parasites.
Why Should I Worry About Ticks?
Ticks may be small, but they carry an outsized risk to your health and the health of your family. Ticks have always carried some pretty scary diseases, but there have been additional threats in recent years.
From old illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever to emerging threats like Lyme disease, ticks are vectors for some very dangerous illnesses. Even if you rarely see ticks on your property, you need to be alert – and aware of the potential dangers.
How Can I Protect Myself?
Ticks are everywhere in the environment, but they are most prevalent in grasslands and wooded areas. If you are spending time outdoors, you need to check yourself for ticks every time you head back indoors. Check your skin carefully for hitchhiking ticks, and remove any you find right away. The longer the tick remains in place, the greater the risk it will pass on a serious illness to yourself or your family.
You can protect yourself further by wearing long sleeves and long pants when you are in the woods or spending time in tall grass. You can also reduce the population of ticks by keeping your grass neatly trimmed – ticks thrive in overgrown areas and high grass.
What About My Pets?
You should perform the same tick check on your pets, carefully checking their skin for errant insects. Pay careful attention to your pet’s ears, nose, muzzle and legs – ticks love to latch on these areas and start to feed.
Ask your Veterinarian about various methods of tick control, from flea and tick collars and topical medications to ingestible products that protect against ticks and other common canine and feline illnesses. Making sure your pets are protected from ticks also provides an extra layer of protection for yourself and your family, giving you a double benefit.
Ticks are a serious danger in this area, and an emerging threat for many of its residents. If you want to enjoy the beauty of the outdoor landscape, you need to protect yourself from common pests, including the many species of ticks that call the backyards, woodlands and grassy areas home. The more you know about these parasites, the easier it will be to protect yourself, your family and your pets.
