Backyard Pests – They’re Starting to Tick Me Off!

With summer looking like it is here to stay I am ready to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. But it seems like every time I try, I find myself swarmed by mosquitoes or picking ticks out of my dog’s fur. I’M BUGGING OUT! Luckily there are some fool-proof tips and tricks to help reduce your chances of getting bitten by both, and to save a little bit of sanity.

Let’s start with ticks. These creepy, crawly pin-heads (no, seriously they are the size of a pin head) spread diseases that make you sick. In our area, our biggest concern is Lyme disease, but we also see a few cases of Anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever each year. Cases of Lyme disease have increased 200% in Clinton County over the past 3 years. Grossed out? Me too. But we can take a few easy steps to avoid run-ins or bites from these guys.

1. Avoid areas they like. This includes grassy, bushy, brushy areas with tall grass and leaf litter.

2. Prepare for an encounter. You don’t need to be deep in the woods to get a tick bite; the run-in could happen in your own backyard. Before you head outdoors:

• Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent.
• Cover your skin as much as possible (enclosed shoes, long pants and shirts, tall socks).
• Wear light colors. This makes spotting a tick easier.
• Treat clothing with permethrin.

3. Remove any ticks before they have a chance to bite.

• Do a tick check on your whole body using a mirror to see the tricky areas. See figure 1 to learn where to look on people and pets.
• Take a shower as soon as you can. This will wash away any unattached ticks.
•  Put the clothes you wore in the dryer for at least 10 minutes on high to kill any ticks.

Figure 1

Did all these things and still found a tick? I’ve been there! Don’t panic. Not all ticks are infected and your risk of Lyme disease decreases if you remove it within 24-36 hours. Click here to watch a video on the best way to remove ticks.

If you do find one of these pesky little dudes latched on, keep an eye on the bite site for a few weeks. If you develop a fever, chills, headache, rash, muscle or joint pain, or swollen glands within 30 days of your bite, contact your doctor. Be sure to let them know about your tick bite.

On to the most annoying creatures on the planet – mosquitoes! While they can carry diseases like West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, in Clinton County they tend to be more of a nuisance than a disease spreader. If you seem to have an overabundance in your backyard, chances are you are to blame. How so? Mosquitoes lay their eggs in or near water. Then their babies grow-up in that water before flying away and biting. This entire process only takes about a week! So step one in reducing mosquitoes around your home is eliminating standing water at least weekly.

• 

  Figure 2

  Empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw away items holding water. Some examples include: tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpots, and trash containers (see figure 2).
• Make sure your gutters are draining properly.
• Tightly cover any water storage containers – like buckets, cisterns and rain barrels. If it doesn’t have a lid, cover is with wire mesh.
• Repair gaps or cracks in your septic tank. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes.
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers if you keep them outdoors.

·    When used as directed, insect repellents are the BEST protection.

•       Always follow the product label instructions
•       Reapply as directed.
•      Do not spray on the skin under clothing.
•      If using sunscreen AND insect repellent, apply sunscreen first, then the insect repellent.
•      Store out of reach of children.
•      Do not allow children to apply it themselves.
•      Do not use it on children younger than 2 months.
•      When applying to children, apply it to your hands first. Then rub it onto the child’s skin.

Don’t forget to keep the mosquitoes outside. Repair screens and keep doors closed.

Don’t let ticks and mosquitoes ruin your summer. Prepare for them, take steps to avoid them, and be ready to treat bites in case one or two get through. For more tips on having a safe and healthy summer, check out our Summer Safety Guide. Missed our Spring Safety Guide? No problem!

Molly Flynn

Principal Public Health Educator

Division of Health Planning & Promotion

What's Biting You?

Summer in the Adirondacks is finally here. It’s time to enjoy all that our beautiful region has to offer, from activities at the lake, walks on one of our many local trails, to hiking our scenic mountains. Unfortunately, it’s also the time of year that pests like ticks and mosquitoes are most common. Aside from being annoying, infected ticks and mosquitoes can spread diseases. Lyme disease and West Nile virus (WNV) are two of the more common tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses in our community. PREVENTION is your best defense to keep yourself and your family healthy.

Take the following steps to prevent tick and mosquito bites:

·         Use an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent that contains 20-30% DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

·         Cover your skin as much as possible. Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.

·         Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.

·         Cover baby carriers and strollers with mosquito netting when outside.

·         Treat clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents) with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.

·         Take a shower as soon as you can after coming indoors to wash away unattached ticks.

·         Look for ticks on your body. Young ticks are usually the size of a poppy seed, while adult ticks are about the size of a sesame seed. Ticks often hide under the armpits, behind the knees, in the hair, at the waistline, and in the groin.

·         Put your clothes in the dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.

Watch the video below for instructions on what to do if you find a tick. We hope that you and your family enjoy a long, beautiful, healthy, pest-free summer. (http://bit.ly/2rDoj9y)

For more information on ticks visit http://www.clintonhealth.org/ticks, and for more information on mosquitoes visit http://www.clintonhealth.org/mosquitoes.