Summer is the time of year when we enjoy the outdoors the most with hikes and explorations through some of the most beautiful rural areas around in New York State.   Ticks have definitely been a problem, but they shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the best of what the season has to offer.

Ticks are in the arachnid family (related to spiders) with two body parts (head and abdomen) and eight legs.  They do not jump or fly, but rather brush onto clothing or skin when you walk through areas with tall grasses.  They typically will start out lower on your leg areas which is why experts recommend wearing long, lightweight, light colored pants with bottom cuffs tucked into socks.  If you are out for an extended period of time, it is always good check for ticks on your body after you return – sock line, waist area, backs of legs, armpits, hairline, behind ears, etc.  A shower or bath at the end of the day also will help to remove any ticks that might still be on your body.

If you find a tick embedded, proper removal within 24 hours usually will prevent the chance for transmission of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.   According to the CDC, “in most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. Most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks called nymphs.”

Click here for more information about Lyme disease from the CDC

Click here for more Tick Safety information from the University at Stony Brook