Ticks ready to prey during spring
MINERAL COUNTY - As spring nears, it’s not the warm weather people should be thinking about, it’s tick prevention.
The impending warmth often makes wooded areas a breeding ground for ticks that thrive in brush or other bushy material in the forest.
“It’s just the season, it’s not any worse or less,” said Peggy Stevens, director of the Mineral County Health Department. “It’s kind of like bees that come out in the spring. The beginning of spring is always worse compared to the summer when it is hotter.”
Although risk factors for attracting ticks is high this time of year for outdoor enthusiasts, there are many prevention methods that make ticks a second thought.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Division recommends simple prevention measures like tucking pant legs into socks. Doing so will prevent ticks from possibly crawling up the legs. Another method is to wear light colored clothing which will allow the person to see potential areas where the most ticks are on the body.
Stevens said another way to rid yourself of the insect is to take a shower directly after being in high risk exposure areas.
A small mirror may also be used to inspect all parts of the body closely and accurately.
Pets should also not be forgotten as sometimes it’s possible for the tick to hide deep below an animal’s fur.
“DEET, or any mosquito repellent will help prevent them from attaching or crawling on you,” Stevens said. “People should also avoid brushy areas and try to walk the center of trails.”
One of the many reasons people become sick from ticks is that they are often not removed properly when one becomes attached to someone’s skin.
“If one finds its way on you, make sure you use tweezers to get to the skin as close as possible, making sure you remove the tick with the head intact,” Stevens said.
However, if an illness is suspected from a tick bite, symptoms may include fever, rash and body aches, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It’s also best to follow up with a doctor if a bite is suspected. The typical bite rash may or may not appear until up to 30 days after the bite.
The CDC also recommends avoiding household remedies like painting the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. The reason being is many people try to get the tick to go away on its own, although this may cause eventual sickness.
“Fortunately Lyme Disease isn’t found in this part of the country,” Stevens said. “We have Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever because the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick is more associated with our area.”
Symptoms of fever usually begin as little as three days after the bite, and may take as many as 12 days for symptoms to become noticeable, according to the FWP. Complications may include kidney failure and shock which can lead to death if not treated promptly.