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Tick Safety and Prevention in Vermont

Lindsay Arthurs
18 hours ago
2 min read

The weather in Vermont has been beautiful lately, which inspires many people to get outside. While hiking can offer both cardiovascular and strength benefits, it is also important to take some precautions to stay safe. New England has a high rate of Lyme Disease and Ticks which can carry various diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, hard tick relapsing fever, and Powassan virus disease. Ticks are still active in the fall and many are even active in the winter. Ticks are commonly found in leaf piles, in thick grass, and forests. They attach themselves onto grasses and wait until they sense the warm body temperature of a human or animal to latch on. Once attached the tick can transmit diseases. 




To help prevent tick bites:

  • Wear bug spray that has an EPA approved tick repellant one example is OFF Deep Woods Insect Replant

  • Spray clothes and shoes with permethrin 

  • Wear light colored clothes along with pants tucked into socks to more easily spot sticks

  • Stay in the center of trails

  • Check yourself and your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.



If you do happen to be bit by a tick, take the following steps:

  1. Remove it including the head with tweezers. Save the tick in a plastic zip lock bag. Contact your doctor and let them know you were bitten by a tick. Let them know if you experience any symptoms such as a rash, fever, swelling. Not every tick carries disease, and not every person infected will experience symptoms.

  2. Monitor yourself for symptoms of Lyme Disease, these include rash, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, fever, and chills)  and let your doctor know if you experience any changes in health and make sure to bring up concerns about Lyme Disease and Tick Borne Illness

  3. If you want to send the tick to a laboratory for testing, click this link to learn how you can send it in: https://www.beboplabs.org/send-ticks/. By figuring out what disease the tick has you will be able to know what symptoms to watch out for and what disease you may have contracted. 



If you want more information aboutTick Safety & Prevention in Vermont visit this link Prevent Tick Bites & Tick Bite Illnesses | Vermont Department of Health


 
 
 

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