Heads Up for Ticks

Photo by Erik Karits on Unsplash

Summer is nearly upon us and it’s time to think about ticks again.

Ticks usually live in long grass and wait for something to wander by so they can hitch a ride. Keeping to the trails and avoiding long grass can help you prevent ticks from choosing you. Long pants, tall socks and long sleeves can also help.

For the most part, ticks are an annoyance, but some species of ticks can carry serious diseases such as lyme disease. In 2019 (the last year that data is available for), there were 44 reported incidents of lyme disease in the East Kootenay area. It’s important to check yourself, your children and pets after adventuring out in tick habitat.

Some links for further reading:

• Article in the Cranbrook Townsman (March 2021)

• Lyme Disease article from BC Centre for Disease Control

• HealthLinkBC