Local Extension Educator Shares Safety, Prevention Tips for Tick Bites

(KNSI) – Outdoor summertime fun also comes with some safety considerations, like watching out for ticks. University of Minnesota Extension says 13 species of ticks live in Minnesota, but local extension educator Katie Drewtiz says there are two species of the arachnid that Minnesotans will most likely come across.

“We’re going to be dealing with the American dog tick and the black-legged tick, which is also known as a deer tick,” Drewitz said. “That tick in particular carries Lyme disease.”

Drewitz says a tick must be attached to a person for 24 to 48 hours to transmit Lyme disease, if that particular tick is a carrier, so if you find a tick that had just recently bitten you, you should be OK.

The blood-sucking arachnids vary in size depending on their life stage and prefer wooded areas with tall grasses.

“If you have a yard that backs up to a wooded space and you have a pretty big deer population, you are going to be more likely to see ticks and more likely to see the black-legged tick,” Drewitz said.

Some things you can do to prevent tick bites, Drewitz says, is to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants that are light-colored and use bug spray.

“If you have a dog, the recommendation from veterinarians is to use some sort of tick protectant, whether that is an oral protector that they take once a month or a collar or topical application,” she said. “I would definitely talk to your veterinarian about what is best for your dog, because it is going to vary a little bit depending on the lifestyle your dog has.”

No matter the safety measures taken, Drewitz says it’s always a good idea to look for ticks on yourself and your pets after being in or near wooded areas.

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