Among the budding flowers and greening grass, another sign of spring has arrived: ticks. The evidence? Two ticks, one on each of my dogs, I found recently.
One dog had a tick on her snout; the other dog had a tick on her head that I found while petting her. Both ticks were about the size of a pinhead, and attached, but not yet engorged. I was able to remove them, and promptly gave both dogs a dose of K9 Advantix, which I had stopped using for a few months this winter. I also checked the rest of the dogs' bodies for more ticks, finding none.
With evidence that tick season is here, it's a good reminder to check yourself, your children and your pets after being outdoors.
Grafton Health Agent Lois Luniewicz said "nymphal deer ticks," which carry lyme disease, are the most concerning type of tick, and they start to come out in mid-May.
"June is the riskiest month," Luniewicz said. "Usually, Memorial Day weekend is the official start of 'tick season.'"
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has instructions on how to remove a tick if you find one. It also has tips on how to avoid ticks in your yard, and on people and pets. Tickborne illness, including Lyme Disease, can occur after a tick bite, so the CDC also provides information on symptoms of illness.
If you're heading outside for a walk in the woods, to do some gardening, or just to sit outside and enjoy the spring weather, it's a good idea to keep an eye out for ticks.
Have you found any ticks yet? Do they affect your outdoor activities? Tell us in the comments.