Tips for checking ticks
ALPENA, Mich. — As we head into summer, it’s worth remembering we may pick up a few hitchhikers during our walks in the forest. We spoke with one expert to learn more about checking for ticks.
There are many species of ticks, but the one that poses the greatest health risk is the invasive black–legged tick – also known as the deer tick.
This tick is the one famous for carrying the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. However, that’s not the only tick which carries an illness. Alpena’s native dog ticks can spread disease as well.
Dr. Jean Tsao from MSU says you should keep any ticks that bite you.
“It’s really important that you save the tick because different ticks transmit different pathogens. If it’s a Lyme disease tick, then the doctor will know there’s a chance you may get Lyme disease and they can actually provide some prophylactic treatment.”
Tsao says you should check yourself for ticks while outdoors, and again when you get home. If a tick bites you, use fine–tipped tweezers to remove them with gentle upward pressure.
You can find more information on the CDC website. The University of Rhode Island also has some helpful tips. Finally, you can learn more about a new tick-tracking app from MSU here.
