Wednesday, July 31, 2002
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Wednesday, July 31, 2002 |
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Be aware of ticks this summer It's tick season again! Anyone who is outside for even a short period of time may encounter ticks - when you go to the mailbox, cut the grass or play with the dog. Even the pets will bring ticks inside with them. Be extra careful when walking or playing in wooded or grassy areas. A difficult question to answer would be "What is the best way to keep ticks away?" There are tick repellents for both animals and humans. Dressing for the occasion is the best way to avoid ticks while enjoying the out-of-doors. Wear light colored, long-sleeved shirts and trousers tucked into your socks. The best way to avoid infections from tick bites is to check yourself thoroughly at shower or bath time. If a tick should be found, grasp the tick with tweezers as close to the head as possible, applying gentle but steady traction, and slowly rotate the tick during removal making sure all tick parts are removed. The most common ticks to Georgia are the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, Lone star tick, and the black-legged or deer tick. These carry several illnesses including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, rabbit fever (Tularemia) and Tick paralysis. There is no effective way to eliminate ticks from an area. Weather conditions play a large role in tick populations. Foresters with the Georgia Forestry Commission say that even controlled burning in the fall or winter doesn't help with reducing ticks as they bury themselves in the ground until spring arrives. Literature titled "Ticks, Wildlife and Lyme Disease in the Southeast" is available in limited supply from your county Georgia Forestry Commission office (phone), or by contacting the Southeastern Coop. Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia at 706-542-
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