Advice to deal with those dastardly ticks

MILLBROOK — With spring — and now summer — so come ticks and other pesky insects. In reality, tick bites are a constant threat, and many people are more afraid of getting bitten by a tick than being stung by bees or mosquitoes.

A program at Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC) in Millbrook this April shared information on how to live with ticks so nearby.  Ticks are especially prevalent in the Hudson Valley — which has an extremely high number of Lyme disease cases.

Leaders of the forum were Joyce Tomaselli, community horticulture resource educator; Andrew Evans, coordinator of communicable diseases with the Department of Behavioral and Community Health; and Robert Akoko, Dutchess County public health advisor.

A screen presentation was helpful in helping to identify the different types of ticks, and Tomaselli sported tick tattoos to show the size and shape to look for. There were also tubes with ticks in them, which were passed around so everyone could see what ticks look like. Many audience members were familiar with them already, as they are a part of outdoor living in this area.

Each participant was given a tick kit, complete with tweezers to help remove ticks and cards with pertinent information. Large, color posters were also available, which addressed what to wear when outdoors, available tick repellents for clothing and tips on monitoring ticks in one’s own backyard. There are methods people can use to treat their own clothes, and services that they can send clothing to for treatment, which are then returned by mail. There are also mesh suits for sale to keep ticks at bay, for about $150.

Ticks like leaves, and invasive plants such as barberry, honeysuckle and multi flora roses. It’s best to remove these plants, and to build a mulch barrier outside of landscape beds.  One can also put up deer fencing around the yard, keep the area around bird feeders clear of seed waste, and use rodent proof compost piles. Seal openings in stone around houses, and don’t keep woodpiles near the house. 

The CCEDC also advises doing a daily tick check — a very thorough check between toes, behind ears, under arms, inside the ears and along the hairline. Use a mirror for places not easily seen, and if a tick is found, remove it immediately.

Ticks can be found almost anywhere, but be especially careful at wooded edges, grassy areas and near vegetation.

Repellents can be helpful in avoiding ticks, but when using repellents be careful to follow all instructions. Some work better than others. Some of the more popular repellents are DEET, eucalyptus oil, IR8585 and Picaridin 20. None is perfect and most have their downsides. Research repellents before use to find the best one for the user.

How one dresses is also a factor. Avoid bare legs and feet, wear shoes, boots and socks when hiking or spending time outdoors. Tuck pant leg bottoms into socks; wear long sleeved shirts. Try to wear white or light colored clothing.  

One can even make a tick finding device by tying white or light colored fabric to a dowel and rope or string to form a handle and dragging it across the yard to check for ticks.

Ticks are arachnids, and seek warm blood — making humans an easy target. If bitten, remove the tick immediately. Look for a bullseye rash. Lyme disease is both unpleasant and dangerous, and doctors will usually opt for antibiotics, like doxycycline, to combat the disease. Symptoms can be similar to those of a flu. The type of tick bite one gets makes a difference because there are many different types of ticks, all with their own disease tracks.

For more information on ticks and other important topics, go to www.dontgettickedny.org or www.nysipm.cornell.edu.