Tick Season Is Upon Us! Posted on 2010-05-01 22:12:25 With spring officially in full swing, the trees are budding and bugs are breeding -- including ticks. "There are a few different species of ticks in Chatham-Kent," said Cara Robinson, a health inspector with the Public Health Unit. "All types of ticks are starting to emerge now." She said there are wood ticks, also known as dog ticks, and blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks. It's the deer ticks that can carry Lyme disease, she said. "We have zero documented, lab confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the last two years," she added. Robinson said ticks are usually found in wooded areas and in tall grass. Deer ticks are about the size of a sesame seed and are much smaller than dog ticks, she said. Emily Slavik, natural heritage education specialist at Rondeau Provincial Park, said there are ticks in the park. "They are part of the ecosystem," she said. "A lot of our campers and day users are very well informed about ticks and they do take precautions." She said when people are out in a tick habitat they can protect themselves by taking the following precautions: * wear long sleeves and tuck your pants into your socks; * wear light-coloured clothing so you can detect ticks before they attach; * use insect repellent containing Deet; and * conduct a tick check. Look on your clothes, body and pet. Pay close attention to your neck and scalp region. Robinson said ticks can often be found before they bite. "Usually ticks travel around your body before they settle and feed," she said, noting they may spend up to 24 hours walking around looking for the perfect spot to bite. Slavik said ticks in Rondeau have tested positive for Lyme disease in the past. Between 2001-2006, deer ticks were collected and tested. She said the highest rate was in 2006 at 11 per cent "which is considered extremely low." In recent years Slavik said there has been an increase in the tick population. "Due to warm weather, ticks in general are becoming more common in a lot more areas," she said. "It's due to climate change." Robinson said the threat of Lyme disease is low. "Just because you have a tick on you, it doesn't mean you will get Lyme disease," she said, noting the tick has to feed for at least a day to transmit the disease, if it's even infected. Slavik said Rondeau is teaming up with the health unit to offer educational information about ticks starting on the May long weekend. As well, an information article about the bugs will be in the park guide. She provided the following tips for dealing with a feeding tick: * use fine point tweezers and grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible; * gently pull straight out and disinfect the bite area; * don't grasp around the bloated belly, use a match, heat or chemicals or twist when pulling out the tick. Originally Published April 24, 2010 in The Chatham Daily News. back to main