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Ticked Off? - Page 2

© Emily Levitt

Minimize the areas of tick habitat in your garden. Clearing out woody underbrush allows sunlight to warm the earth. This will elevate the ground temperature and kill off tick larvae, which need cool damp spots in order to mature into adult ticks.

Most of us who work outside have to come into contact with the kinds of places ticks like, so be forewarned--it pays to be prepared when you get into their territory.

Wearing long sleeved and long legged clothing, in light colors, helps to keep you cool and makes it harder for ticks to get onto your skin. Light colors make it easier to see ticks should they crawl upon you. You also reduce the chance of exposing yourself to the leaves of poisonous plants by keeping covered in the woods.

I don't particularly like using lots of Deet, but it really helps repel ticks. I put a wide circle of it around my wrists, ankles, neck and shirt collar as a barrier. It keeps small flying bugs out of my face, too.

Should you discover a tick on your person, remove it with a paper towel and get rid of it. During a heavy tick season, I keep jar of rubbing alcohol (with a tight lid) handy and drop the ticks in it. It's gross, but it does the job. Smashing them with a rock, once my son's favorite method of tick dispatch, is NOT recommended. I also keep some Bactine handy to treat the bitten area.

The jar is generally used for getting rid of ticks which find their way onto my dog. However, I try to note on a calendar the date of any tick bites on my kids or my own person, just in case we get sick. Tick borne diseases are extremely rare, but it is important to tell your doctor if you develop flu like symptoms within a month of receivng a tick bite. If the area surrounding a tick bite becomes red, or you develop a strange rash and/or fever, seek prompt medical attention.

Some doctors also suggest you bring in the tick, and I say---good luck with that. Keep a special disposal jar for the ticks that bite people?

The University of Florida has a very informative site, with loads of information on the use of pesticides in tick removal. There is information here treating on heavy infestations...even those which occur indoors. Yes, they do happen. All it takes is one female in the house at egg laying time, and there goes the neighborhood, so to speak.

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