Tips for Tick Season

Now that the weather is warming up, East Bay Regional Parks District (EBPRD) advises all of us to be aware of ticks when venturing into parks, tall grass, brush, wooded areas, and even our own backyards. Ticks are out in force from now until fall—and they’re out for blood.

Ticks carry germs that can cause several diseases, including the borrelia bacteria. Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of a tick carrying borrelia bacteria which, if not properly treated, may persist in the body for years. It may be treated and cured with early diagnosis. Initial symptoms after a bite include a bump or bull’s-eye rash around the bite area, fever, headache, tiredness, stiffness and pains, and swollen lymph nodes. If you experience any of these symptoms, visit a medical professional as soon as possible for early diagnosis and to prevent more severe effects. Visit the Bay Area Lyme Foundation website for more information.

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Identifying ticks

In California, the western black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the major carrier of Lyme disease. The adult female is reddish brown with black legs, about 1/8 inch long. Males are smaller and entirely brownish-black. Both are teardrop-shaped. Most ticks can’t fly or jump. They wait on the tips of grasses and in shrubs along well-used paths. With their front legs outstretched, they easily climb aboard unsuspecting hosts who brush by.

Tick safety tips from EBRPD

1. Wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.
2. Tuck shirt into pants, and pants into socks.
3. Use insect repellent on shoes, socks, and pants.
4. Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks thoroughly and frequently.
5. Keep children and pets nearby. For maximum safety, consider keeping your dog on a leash.
6. Stay on trails. Avoid brush and grassy areas.

 What to do after a tick bite

1. Pull the tick gently from the skin using a tissue or tweezers, not with your bare hands.
2. Scrape the area to remove any mouthparts left behind. An item such as a credit card can be used.
3. Wash your hands and the tick bite with soap and water; apply antiseptic to the bite. Prompt removal of ticks may prevent disease transmission.
4. See a physician immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms to prevent them from worsening.

Download the Park District’s Living with Ticks brochure. Additional information is available on the East Bay Parks Wildlife Encounters web page.