From Action News Now
November 28, 2017
With the arrival of cool and wet weather, ticks of medical concern are now active again.
Butte County residents need to be alert for ticks that may be carrying Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District’s recent surveillance activities on Chico’s Bidwell Park trails and the Lake Oroville Recreation Area trails have identified increased populations of the western black-legged tick, also referred to as the deer tick.
The District wants to remind residents to take precautions while hiking, camping, biking, and enjoying other outdoor activities.
Ticks are often found in naturally vegetated areas throughout Butte County.
Ticks prefer cool and moist environments like on grasses, shrubs, logs, branches, fallen leaves, and on wooden picnic tables.
Here are some things to remember:
• Avoid areas where ticks live, such as trail margins, brushy and grassy areas, and leaf litter.
• Stay on trails and avoid contact with high grass and brush
• Wear light colors so ticks can be easily seen if they get on you
• Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when possible.
• Use insect repellent with at least 20% DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Always read and follow label directions when applying repellents.
• Treat your clothing, socks, and shoes/boots with permethrin. Permethrin kills any ticks that climb on your body.
• Pack a pair of tweezers or a tick removal tool when hiking in tick areas.
• thoroughly check yourself and your children frequently for ticks, especially at the hairline and base of the scalp
• routinely check pets for ticks and remove them promptly; check with your veterinarian for tick control products