Safety First This Spring; Strip And Check For Ticks

When the weather gets warmer, the ticks come out in Montana. From spring through July, be extra vigilant.  Ticks are nothing to blow off.

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From Granicus:  "Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Q-fever, Giardia, encephalitis, brucellosis, tularemia, relapsing fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and the plague are all diseases that can be transmitted via tick bites.  Colorado tick fever, once considered a rare disease in Montana, has been on the rise over the last few years with several positive cases identified in 2020-2021. The most common symptoms of tick-borne infections include fever and chills, aches and pains, rash, and fever of varying degrees. Although most tick-borne illnesses can be treated with antibiotics, they can be quite difficult to diagnose. Timely and proper removal of attached ticks can reduce the likelihood of a tick transmitting a tick-borne illness."

Best thing to do is take precautions.  From the CDC and EPA:

•  Avoid tick infested areas
• Wear proper clothes, like long sleeved shirts, full length pants TUCKED IN to your socks, and try to make sure you cover any other gaps in your clothing coverage.
• Wear light colored clothing so it's easier to SEE the ticks if you do end up with some.

Check for ticks as soon as you come inside: From the CDC

Check your pets.  Check yourself,  in and around your hair, under your arms, in your ears, in your belly button, the back of your knees, your legs, your waist.

What not to do:

Most suggest NOT trying to smother the tick or burn it out with a match.  It could backfire and drive them further into your body.  Best suggestion was to carefully remove it with tweezers and put it in a plastic bag so your doctor will know exactly what got to you.