Preventing Against Ticks While Outside

Being outside in the summertime is inevitable: many people spend extra time on trips in exotic places or even just gardening in their own backyards. While spending this extra time outdoors, it’s important to take efforts to protect yourself against the pests that might try to get in the way of your summertime fun. This week we’re focusing on ticks, and how they might find their way into your yard and ultimately onto you, your family, or your pets. How can you prevent against ticks? Where are ticks even found? Let’s start at the beginning.

What are ticks?

Ticks are arthropods (invertebrates with external skeletons and jointed legs) who belong to a special group of mites. They are external parasites, meaning they cannot burrow into skin, feeding only on the surface. They feed solely on blood, and evolve their taste as they age from smaller critters to larger animals, such as humans and the family dog.

Where do they live?

Ticks love humidity and hot climates, however, they can adapt to many different climates. While many people believe ticks only live on their host, they often return back to their preferred habitat before finding another host to feed on. Typically, they can be found in grassy or wooded areas, or even on wild animals. This means that even gardening in your backyard or spending time in the field might expose you to these pesky little arthropods.

How can I prevent ticks?

Unfortunately, there is no absolute method to avoid ticks. Avoiding the areas they enjoy living in is the best way, but it isn’t always a surefire strategy. Using permethrin on your clothes and camping equipment can help fight against their attacks by killing them as they move across the fabric or material. A permethrin treatment requires 3-6 ounces, and can withstand multiple washings before it begins to lose its effects. If you’re spending an ample amount of time in the outdoors, permethrin is a great method, because it works equally well against chiggers, mosquitos, and other arthropods.

While outdoors

When spending lots of time outdoors in a tick-friendly environment, wear light-colored clothing so that their dark bodies are more easily seen if one falls on you. Additionally, wear as many layers of clothes as possible to help guard your skin, tucking your shirt into pant legs and pant legs into socks. Supplementing permethrin with insect repellents can be especially effective when trying to protect your exposed skin.

After the outdoors

Even if you feel as though you didn’t encounter any ticks, it’s crucial to take as many precautions as possible in order to prevent against exposure to a tick bite. Ask a friend to thoroughly check your body and clothes for any ticks, as spotting them on your own can be tricky. Make sure to take extra time on the scalp, especially if you have long or thick hair, as they are easy to miss in a tangle of long locks. Once you’ve been checked, take a shower and wash your clothes in extremely hot water which will encourage them to disengage if they are still attached.

Make sure your backyard is not tick-friendly, and encourage your family to educate themselves on the dangers of tick bites. There’s nothing wrong with spending your free time in the outdoors, as long as you are prepared for the potential visitors you may have. While tick repellents can protect your family, only crop insurance can protect your crops. Call Crop Insurance Solutions today to talk about insurance options for your field!