Don’t Forget to Check for Ticks

Summertime usually comes with spending a lot of time outdoors. Maybe it’s sending your little ones off to summer camp, taking a family stroll in one of the state parks or spending more time playing in the backyard. More time outdoors leads to increased chance of being exposed to ticks and tick bites. Ticks are common in Delaware no matter the region in which you live so it is important to know where to look for them, how to prevent bites, how to safely remove them, and what to look for if you do get bitten. So, let’s get right to it.

Lone Star Ticks are the most common tick species in Delaware, especially in Kent and Sussex counties. These ticks can be found from spring to early fall and are in a variety of habitats.

Deer or Blacklegged ticks are common in forested and woody areas. Adults can be found in the fall, winter, and early spring. Delaware is among the top ten high-incidence states for Lyme disease, which is carried by the blacklegged tick.

The American Dog Tick is common in meadows and other areas that have tall grass. Only adult dog ticks bite humans. They are common during the late spring and summer.

The Gulf Coast Tick can be found in meadows and wetland areas during the later spring and summer.

The Asian Longhorn Tick can be found in a variety of habitats mostly in New Castle and Kent Counties. They are most common during the spring and summer but rarely bite humans. They prey on pets or livestock.

Ticks are most active during the spring and summer months. Most bites occur in backyards or close to the home. Ticks don’t jump or fall out of trees. They can be found on blades of grass or other plants and latch on to a host when they walk by. On average, ticks feed on 3 hosts throughout their life and what stage they are in depends on what they feed on. Larva tend to feed on small mammals such as rodents, rabbits, and small birds. Nymphal ticks also feed on small mammals. Adult ticks feed on larger hosts such as deer, livestock, and dogs.

Being that ticks are found year-round, there’s no true way of keeping them away. Ticks, like humans, are most active during the warmer months of the year so take note of your surroundings while enjoying the sun. By avoiding high grass and heavily wooded areas (this does involve trails), your exposure to ticks will be limited. If you do travel into wooded areas or at the very least areas with a lot of grass or brush, make sure to treat the clothes you’ve worn with tick repellent containing permethrin. Additionally, check the clothes you’ve worn thoroughly as well as your body for ticks. Ticks can end up anywhere from behind your ears, to your waist and even to your belly button! Shower as soon as you get indoors to avoid getting bit by a tick.

Ticks do bite, and these bites can come with potential consequences. Some tick bites can be harmless and may have no symptoms. But in the event that you get bit, you may experience:

●     pain or swelling where you’ve been bitten

●     rash

●     a burning sensation where you’ve been bitten

●     blisters

●     difficulty breathing

The symptoms above are mild on the spectrum of symptoms you may experience if bitten by a tick. Some ticks carry disease that is transmissible through a bite and symptoms can worsen over anywhere from a few days to several weeks. If you experience any of the following, you may have contracted a tick-borne illness:

●     a red spot or rash near where you’ve been bitten

●     a full body rash

●     neck stiffness

●     headache

●     nausea

●     fatigue or weakness

●     muscle or joint pain/achiness

●     fever

●     chills

●     swollen lymph nodes

If you’ve been bit by a tick and the tick is visible, grab a pair of tweezers and remove the tick as close to your skin as possible. Pull straight and away from the skin while applying pressure. Remove any extra pieces of the tick from your skin (if applicable) and clean the bite site with rubbing alcohol or any alcohol-based sanitizer. Finally, place the tick in rubbing alcohol or an alcohol-based sanitizer until dead.

If you’ve lived near tall grass or the woods, you’ve surely experienced ticks. Whether you’ve hit the trails or simply enjoyed going to the park, you may have found a tick on your clothes while enjoying the great outdoors. Ticks are out all year round and are found in every state, so avoiding a tick your entire life may be impossible. So next time you’re out roaming the beautiful state of Delaware, make sure to pack some tick repellent and bring extra alcoholic sanitizer to disinfect!