The height of tick season is upon us and entomologist and tick expert Taz Stuart says preparation and protection is key. Ticks are arachnids and don’t fly but can easily attach themselves to other beings, including us, when we simply brush up against grass or other plants. One tip Stuart suggests is a thorough tick check when coming in.
While lime disease from black-legged ticks is a major risk, Stuart notes other ticks can transmit infections to humans and pets and warns it’s often hard to spot or feel them on our bodies.
Stuart stresses that when removing a tick, ensure that the mandibles or paired jaws are completely taken out by means of a good set of tweezers to avoid continued pathogen transmission. He also urges us not to toss the tick in the garbage or flush it down the toilet, but to save it to take to the doctor if medical attention is needed.
Story by Brian Turner