Preparing For Ticks In The Valley

Sorry, this video is no longer available

 Many people in the valley are getting out and enjoying the nice weather, but so are ticks.
 
Tick season is here and there are a few things you may want to know to keep yourself safe.
 
Officials say the highest risk for exposure to ticks is usually from mid–May through mid–July.

Deer ticks, which live in Minnesota, are potential carriers of Lyme disease.

Many people here in the valley are all too familiar with ticks.
 
“They’re nasty critters as you know they get in your hair. Whenever I’m mowing the lawn or going through the brush, I make sure to check myself over,” said Steve Lewis of Roseau, Minnesota.
 
“I feel they’re a nuisance. You know, they’re no fun when you see one and you start worrying that they’re all over the place,” said Theresa Carlson who’s visiting from Bloomington, Minnesota.
 
Steve Lewis knows the dangers of the Lyme disease first hand.

It can affect different body systems, such as the nervous system, joints, skin, and heart.
 
“You start to feel really like you got, like you got rusty joints and they just kind of get creaky and painful,” said Lewis.
 
Many people who have experience camping say a big problem they see is getting ticks on their dogs.
 
“We have a dog so we found ticks on her and just ticks around the house that probably came from her, we think,” said Carlson.
 
“Our dogs have had Lyme disease, two of them have and they get their shots and it goes away,” said Lewis.
 
The Minnesota DNR suggests a few things to stay away from ticks.

Wear light colored clothing so ticks will be more visible.

When in deer tick habitat, walk in the center of the trail to avoid picking up ticks from grass and brush.

If you do happen to get bitten by a tick, use tweezers to grasp the tick close to its mouth.

Then, gently and slowly pull the tick straight outward.
 
The DNR says to avoid contact with any bacteria, if it’s even there, and do not squeeze the tick’s body.

They also suggest washing the area and watch for early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease.