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Beware of
deer ticks, those nasty forest hitch-hikers
BY ALLEN MACARTNEY It might be time to give serious
thought to deer ticks. Ticks in general – and deer ticks
are the most likely in our area – are tiny, blood-feeding parasites that live in forest grasses, bushes, dried leaves and low vegetation all over the world. Where you find deer, you’ll likely find lots of deer ticks. And deer ticks carry Lyme disease,
which is no joke. These insects are less than one
quarter the size of the end of a match stick and often go unnoticed by hikers or campers. They can go unnoticed until, a few days later, the host gets a rash or a fever or both. They don’t fly or crawl around
looking for an animal or human to attack. Instead, they let the animal come to them. As a host brushes by, it sinks curved teeth into the skin
to act as anchors, and it starts to drink blood. Ticks will latch onto deer, birds,
reptiles, amphibians or humans, as long as it can find blood. They’re more active in warm weather, and are more abundant near water (where animals drink) and meadows and scrub (where animals graze). So what? you might think. No big deal. Nothing more than just another biting bug to annoy us, like a non- flying mosquito. Wrong. Deer ticks carry several se- rious viruses, including Lyme disease. Untreated, a deer tick infection may lead to serious health problems. So the sooner you get a tick off
you, the better. Here’s how. Use needle-nose tweezers to
grasp the tick by its mouth as close as possible to where its tiny jaws are clamped onto your skin. Gently pull straight out until the tick lets go. Don’t crush or squeeze it while it’s still attached because this could force infected fluids into your body. After you’ve removed the tick, and
any embedded mouth parts you can find, wash the area with dis- infectant liquid, and apply antiseptic cream when you’re finished. Wash
your hands and tweezers too. Then put the dead tick in a con-
tainer, with the date. If you do get sick, having the corpse on hand will help a doctor diagnose what’s ailing you. Watch the bite area for infection, and monitor your health for changes. See a doctor if you suspect an infec- tion. Prevention is better than an awk-
ward tweezer operation, so wear boots, socks, long pants and long- sleeved shirts when walking in grass or beside shrubs, and stay in the cen- tre of trails, away from tall grass or leaves that might brush against you. Check your clothes and body for
ticks – light-coloured clothes will make them easier to see. Sticky tape is a quick way to get one off cloths or socks. Insect repel- lent might help keep them at bay, but opinion is divided on how effective it is.
And if you’re hiking with a pet, give
it a break, and check out Fido as well as yourself for ticks. There are many species of these
creatures, but it’s best to assume that the tick latched onto your leg is a deer tick, and dangerous. Err on the side of caution. /OO
h E
Frontenac Outfitters C a N o E & K a y a K C E N T R E
One of Canada's Largest On-Water Paddlesports Centres 1/2 hr. North of Kingston, beside Frontenac Provincial Park
Sales, Rentals, Courses, Tours • Test Paddle 300 Kayaks Every Day 800.250.3174 •
www.frontenac-outfitters.com
10 ottawaoutdoors
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
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PHOTO CREDIT: S P E X
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