Ah, the wonderful outdoor recreation. Connecting with nature is a lot of fun and provides many people with an escape from reality. However, there are a few pests that can cause you serious trouble when you're out in the woods. Of all the pests you're likely to encounter on the trail, ticks in particular can be a serious problem for both casual and avid hikers. Although ticks are difficult to detect, there are several steps you can take to limit the likelihood of an infestation. Knowing where ticks typically live, how to check for ticks and what preventative measures to take can help you protect yourself from ticks.
Where do ticks live?
Although ticks feed on animals and people, they do not live on their hosts and do not usually cause infestations indoors. In contrast, ticks stay close to their hosts and typically live in grassy, forested areas with dense vegetation. As a result, forests and trails around campgrounds provide excellent homes for ticks.
Since ticks cannot fly and do not jump like fleas, they adopt a “searching” position to attach to a host. Questing is when a tick sits on the edge of a leaf, stem or blade of grass and extends its front legs in the hope of climbing onto the host that brushes against it. Ticks take a questioning position when they sense an animal or person nearby. They can discover hosts in several ways. For example, ticks can detect carbon dioxide, body heat, body odor, and sometimes even the shadow of a nearby host. If a host, such as a deer, raccoon, dog, cat or human, brushes against a searching tick, it will either quickly attach itself to the host or crawl around the hosts in search of a suitable feeding area.
Checking ticks
Any time you return from a potential tick location, you should check yourself for ticks. Because ticks are so small, you will have to look closely and closely to find them. In addition to searching, it is important to feel for ticks with your hands. Ticks like to find warm, moist, dark spots on your body. Although you should examine your entire body, you should pay close attention to the back of your knees, armpits, waistline, groin, scalp, and neck. In addition to checking yourself for ticks, you should also check your belongings and pets. If you find a tick, it should be removed immediately. The best way to remove a tick is to use fine tweezers and pull firmly, being careful not to crush or squeeze the tick. By removing a tick sooner rather than later, you reduce your risk of contracting Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases such as anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Prevention of ticks
The possibility of being bitten by a tick should not stop you from going outside and enjoying the outdoors. To reduce the likelihood of tick infestation, you should follow these tips:
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