Temperatures rising to 40°F and melting snow are not only signs that spring is approaching, but also that your next outdoor adventure might include uninvited travel buddies—ticks! Beyond being creepy-crawlies, ticks can spread Lyme and other diseases through their bites.
Although ticks seem to be more abundant and aggressive each year, they shouldn’t keep you indoors. Taking precautions and being on the lookout for these little pests can help you catch them before you give them a free ride into your home.
• Wear light-colored clothing, long sleeves and pants. This helps keep ticks off your skin and makes them easier to spot.
• Tuck your clothes from top to bottom. Tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks or boots to make openings for ticks harder to find. Also remember that your hair is an easy target for ticks to cling to, so keep it tied back or tucked into a hat.
• Use bug spray or permethrin to treat clothing. Bug spray or insect repellent can be applied to clothing and exposed skin around your socks, cuffs, and waistbands. Products that contain permethrin act as pesticides that effectively repel ticks. They can be used to treat clothing, hats, shoes, and gear (backpacks, tents, etc.), and last over multiple washes. These products should never be applied directly to skin.
• Be consistent with tick checks. Ticks are master evaders and can tuck away quickly. Common hiding places include underneath hair in the scalp, behind ears, and in armpits. You should check clothes and any exposed skin frequently while outdoors and do a final, full-body check at the end of day.
