The days are getting longer, the beautiful weather is finally here, and flowers and trees are in bloom everywhere you look.  After a long, dark Winter there isn’t anything more appealing than getting outside and taking on the great outdoors. Ahh, Spring! Does it come with any downfalls at all?

It does. Ticks!

tick insect warning sign in wooded area

Ticks are commonly found in wooded and grassy areas. Blacklegged Ticks, sometimes called “Deer Ticks”,  can carry and spread Lyme Disease.  Here in Chatham-Kent, Blacklegged Ticks carrying Lyme Disease are especially common in Rondeau Park and the surrounding area during the Spring, Summer, and Fall.

But don’t let the fear of these little critters keep you locked indoors!

There a number of things you can do to protect yourself:

• Wear bug spray with DEET or Icaridin when outdoors
• Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toed shoes
• Avoid walking through long grass
• Shower within two hours of spending time outdoors and check yourself for ticks
• If you find a tick on your body, remove it with fine-point tweezers

Looking for more info on Ticks and Lyme Disease? We’ve got it!