Ticks are responsible for transmitting various diseases, Lyme disease being the most well-known, but other significant examples include Anaplasmosis, Babesia, Bartonella, and the Powassan virus, among others. Dr. Colin Race explains:

As temperatures warm, the rise in tick-borne illnesses have become a greater health concern in recent years as tick habitats have expanded further northward.

Avoiding tick bites is the best way to prevent any tick-borne illness.

Where are ticks found? Be extra mindful in these areas or avoid them 

Tick-borne diseases thrive in summer months due to warmer temperatures and increased humidity which create ideal breeding conditions and greater tick activity.

But risk of tick bites can begin as early as the spring and continue through the late fall. Ticks can be active anytime the temperature is above freezing.

To know how to avoid tick habitats, know that ticks prefer:

– shady and moist areas

– clinging to tall grass, brush, and shrubs

– usually no more than 18-24″ off the ground

And they are often found in:

– areas around edges of yards, bordering fields or wooded areas

– around old stone walls

– gardens

– woodpiles

– leaf litter

Ticks have a more difficult time surviving at higher elevations, areas with little humidity, and areas with a lot of wind.

Strategies to prevent contact with a tick

Dress to prevent ticks meeting skin: 

– wear socks, long-sleeved shirts and pants

– preferably light-coloured clothing so ticks will be easy to spot

– tuck pants into socks

Know the areas around the yard where ticks are commonly found:

– where a yard borders a field or wooded area, a 1-meter-wide strip of cedar chips can repel ticks (cedar is a natural tick repellant)

– clean up leaves and other organic litter through the yard

A variety of repellants are useful to keep ticks away. These range from the chemical based DEET or permethrin to more natural options such as Nootkatone, Texas Cedarwood Oil, and Lemon Eucalyptus Oil. It’s best to speak with a qualified doctor for a more thorough discussion.

Perform a Tick Check

After an outing, a thorough tick check of yourself, children, pets, and others are important (when possible, it’s best to have a tick-checking partner to look over one another). Some tips:

– Pay extra attention looking over the lower extremities

– In children, check behind ears, in hair and scalp

– Don’t forget to check pets – especially dogs

– Check clothes for attached ticks. A good habit is to put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 6 minutes after returning from outdoors – do not wash the clothes first. The heat of the dryer will kill any hiding ticks.

What if I find a tick?

Don’t freak out! If, despite all of these precautions, you find a tick attached to your skin, there are appropriate steps to take to minimize the chance of having an infection passed on. 

We recommend having the Vive Health Tick Preparedness Kit nearby whenever you are in an area ticks may be. The kit details how to remove a tick properly, and what immediate action to take before seeing a doctor.

Also, take comfort in knowing that it will generally take at least 4 hours to transmit an infection, and likely much longer than that. So there is a very good chance that when a tick is found, prompt (and correct) removal will prevent an infection.

In our next article in this series we will talk about signs and symptoms to watch for should an infection take hold, and exactly what to do.