Tick time

If you haven’t heard already, the ticks are out! The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has reported many early-season tick sightings going back to February. First sightings in late winter are not uncommon, what they report is uncommon is the number of reports of sightings.

In Minnesota, adult ticks usually emerge once the snow has melted, and reach peak numbers by May. There is typically a second period of high activity in the fall before temperatures dip below freezing. This year, the MN DNR warns there’s a chance Minnesotans will see even more ticks than usual during peak spring activity.

There are currently about a dozen different types of ticks in Minnesota, although only a few of them spread disease. Here are the two most common ticks found in Minnesota.

American dog tick (wood tick) - found in grassy open spaces or the woods. Most active in the spring & summer.

Black-legged tick (deer tick) - found in wooded or bushy areas, biggest spreader of disease. Most active in the spring & fall.

The Minnesota Department of Health reports Mille Lacs County and the surrounding counties to all be “high risk” areas for tick-borne diseases.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness, however, four other diseases can be spread by ticks in Minnesota. Many of these diseases have similar symptoms to Lyme disease such as: rash, fever, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue. Initial symptoms usually show up within two to four weeks of being bitten by an infected tick. Ticks must attach for at least 24 hours before transmitting the bacteria for Lyme disease, however, some of the other less common diseases can spread sooner.

Whenever you spend time outdoors in or near tall grass and heavily wooded areas it is best to inspect your clothes immediately afterward and your body closely, especially hard-to-see areas (e.g. behind knees, groin area, and armpits). Look carefully as some of the deer ticks can be as small as a sesame seed. They often attach low to the ground and climb higher to find somewhere to latch on to. Ticks do not jump, fly, or fall from trees.

If you find a tick biting you, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water.

One of your best forms of preventative protection from insect bites when spending time outdoors is to use a “bug spray” containing 30 percent DEET. Concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET are also safe for children (according to reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics). Do not use DEET for infants under two months of age. As a bonus besides protection from ticks, you’ll also be saving yourself from mosquito bites at the same time.

Lastly, don’t forget to inspect your pets well for ticks. They can be more likely to be out in the long grass or woods picking up ticks. Of course, you want to protect them, but at the same time, they can bring the ticks in the house and spread them to you and your family.