As spring approaches, many hikers look forward to the warm weather, blooming flowers, and energized wildlife. But with all these wonders also comes some natural hazards such as poison ivy, mosquitos, and ticks. Ticks are especially bothersome to hikers as they are often overlooked, can be tricky to remove, and spread diseases. Let’s take a moment to learn more about this parasitic terror of the trails.
What is a Tick?
Ticks are a type of arachnids that feed on blood. Often being only a few millimeters, they are small and vary in size depending on type. They have four stages of life which are:
Egg → Larva → Nymph → Adult
4 Common Ticks found in the United States:
| Name | Region | Illness |
| American Dog Tick | East of Rocky Mountains and Parts of Pacific Coast | Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, and tick paralysis. |
| Black Legged Tick (Deer Tick) | Eastern United States; especially in the Northeast | Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan disease, ehrlichiosis, Tick-borne relapsing fever |
| Lone Star Tick | Eastern below Michigan up into Northeast to lower parts of Maine, Southeast to Midwest | Ehrlichiosis, Bourbon virus, Heartland virus, Tularemia, southern tick-associated rash illness, and activation of red meat allergy |
| Brown Dog Tick | Throughout United States | Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever |
Source: CDC- Ticks: Regions Where Ticks Live | Ticks | CDC. Retrieved: 2023.
What environments do ticks live in?
Ticks generally live in wooded, grassy, and shrub areas. They like to hide from the sun by going underneath vegetation or trees. Ticks will often wait for an animal or human to pass and hitch a ride (and snack). This is why hikers should be especially cautious when they head out on the trails.
When is Tick season?
Ticks tend to be most active between April to September, but as temperatures rise there is evidence that tick season can start as early as March and into November or when temperatures are above 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
What can I do to prevent Ticks?
For hikers, and anyone venturing outside during the tick season or when temperatures are above 45 degrees, there are several actions that can be taken to help prevent ticks.
- Wear long sleeves and pants.
- Use insect repellent: especially ones containing DEET.
- Wear light colored clothing: it’s easier to see ticks on light colored clothing.
- Stay on the trail: ticks like to hide in brush and vegetation.
- Shower right after a hike.
- Check yourself especially under arms, behind legs, behind ears and anywhere that might get overlooked.
- Check gear, bags, and car that you took to the trail ticks may hide out in crevices in these areas.
- If you hiked with a pet, don’t forget to check them too.
What to do when you find a tick:
If you find a tick crawling around, the best thing to do is remove it from the area with a paper towel so you can see it and bring it outside away from your property or put it back in the woods if you’re near the trail.
How to Remove imbedded Ticks:
If the tick is embedded, then it’s best to remove it as quickly as possible. Use tweezers that are sterile and place as close to your skin and the tick’s mouth as possible. Pull but try not to force, you want the whole tick and its mouth out from the skin. When removing engorged ticks, it is easy to pop them and leave the mouth embedded. Sterilize the wound. Place the tick in a Ziploc type bag or clear container and contact a doctor especially if you feel sick or see any symptoms such as a rash or marks near the bite.
(This is not professional advice and Doctor’s should always be consulted for any medical emergencies or questions)
Conclusion:
While ticks are one of the many things, we as hikers have to think about when we hit the trail, I think being aware of their presence will allow us to still enjoy our hikes and take proactive steps to protecting our health.