How to Have a Safer Hiking Experience this Summer!

According to Wikipedia, hiking is “a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside.” Whether your walk is vigorous or not, hiking in our area is fun but it can come with some dangers. Besides the obvious possibility of spraining an ankle on uneven terrain, there is the real possibility of contracting some pretty nasty diseases from ticks. There are four steps you should always take when hiking to help prevent tick bites.

1. The first step to take to reduce your chance of a tick bite is using an EPA-approved repellent. It is important to make sure that the repellent you are using is safe, especially if it is being used by the younger members of your family. There are repellents that can be sprayed on your body, and others that are meant specifically for clothes.
2. Clothes also come into play when addressing the second step in preventing ticks. When hiking it is best to wear light colored clothing. Wearing light colored clothes is not about fashion, it is about safety. Ticks, which are dark brown to black in color, are much easier to spot on light colored clothing. Finding them while they are still on your clothing means you can remove them before they have a chance to bite.
3. The third step is not about the clothing you choose, but how you wear it. Tucking your light colored pants into your socks will make it significantly harder for ticks to be able to access your skin. In that same vein, make sure to tuck your shirt into your pants.
4. Lastly, as soon as you get back inside, remove your clothes and do a thorough tick check of your body. Pay special attention to places where ticks like to hide, such as behind your ears, in your hair, and on the backs of your knees.

While all this preparation is good for a day of hiking, it seems like a lot to have to do for a simple excursion into your back yard. The problem is, many back yards have ticks just like those that are found on hiking trails. In fact, studies show that approximately 70% of Lyme disease transmissions are from tick bites in one’s own backyard. Chances are your will not be able to convince your kids to wear pants tucked into their socks every time they go outside. So what can you do? The best thing to do is have your lawn & property professionally treated by Cowleys!

Our professionally trained technicians will dispense a low-grade adulticide through a Mist-Blower Treatment over any leaf litter and exposed dirt in your yard, as well as treat beneath decks and structural overhangs.

It's important to note that even with all the right preventative steps, there is still a small chance you could be bitten by a tick. If you are bitten and experience symptoms such as headache, fatigue, muscle aches, or rashes it is important to see a health care provider right away.