Three Rivers Parks Officials Seeing ‘Uptick in Ticks’
The CDC is reporting a higher number of emergency room visits for tick bites nationwide. Local parks officials are also noticing more ticks in the parks.
Steven Hogg, senior wildlife manager with the Three Rivers Park District, said his staff are seeing an “uptick in ticks.” He said ticks are more likely to be found in tall grass and less on paved trails.
“This is where the ticks are going to be hanging out,” Hogg said, gesturing to a woodsy area.”It’s actually on these cool, wet days where it makes it easier for ticks to find you.”
Hogg said rainfall and weather have nothing to do with the prevalence of ticks. They just are in a cycle that makes them more present in the environment, he said.
There are some precautions people can take to repel ticks.
First, use bug spray. Wearing light colored, full-coverage clothing is also recommended. Hogg suggests wearing a “tick gaiter” at the bottom of your pants, and tucking in clothing so ticks can’t access skin. Light-colored clothing makes it easier for you to spot ticks.
After time outdoors, Hogg recommends looking over yourself to double check.
“Ideally, what you want to do is find that tick before it bites you. And that is rule number one; that is how you are going to keep yourself safe. And that is checking yourself often, and checking yourself every single day and not missing a day,” Hogg said.
If you’re seriously bit, or can’t pull the tick off cleanly, that is when it is time to visit a doctor.
There are two common ticks in Minnesota: the American dog tick, and the deer tick, also known as the black-legged tick. The deer tick is the one that spreads more diseases, such as Lyme disease.
Hogg wrote an article about protecting yourself from ticks on the Three Rivers Park District website.
Steven Hogg explained that cool, wet days and tall grasses are places where ticks find people more readily.
See also: Three Rivers Conducts Prescribed Burns To Help Prairie Habitat
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