Disgusting. Creepy. Disease-ridden. Nuisance. There is no end to the negative feelings we have about ticks. However, with a bit of awareness, preparation and vigilance, hiking in Washington's tick country can be incredibly rewarding and enjoyable.
Take preventative measures against ticks and you won't have to be unpleasantly surprised by these little pests at the end of your hike.
TICK PREVENTION STARTS BY COVERING UPMinimizing your exposure to ticks begins with your clothing. Ticks tend to latch on in grassy areas above the cuff of your pant-leg and move upward, looking for dark places to burrow. Here are a few tips for hikers:
- Wear pants and long sleeves — no shorts! The best choice is convertible pants with a flap over the zippered legs — this is an excellent tick trap.
- Tuck your shirt into your pants. Tuck your pants into your socks.
- Wear light colors, so you can identify the ticks more easily as they climb.
- Don a cap with a flap behind the neck, if you have one.
There is a lot of discussion about tick repellents. Hikers report that DEET works great for mosquitoes, but not so well for ticks. Permethrin is a better choice for ticks; several brands of clothing are made with Permethrin-infused fabric, or you can buy a spray. Note: These are pesticides. Keep that in mind as you decide how you want to use them.
DURING AND AFTER YOUR HIKEStick to the trail. Ticks like to hang out in shaded, grassy areas. Sticking to an established trail is good prevention, but certainly is not foolproof. This is one more great reason to keep dogs, who are tick-magnets, on leash.
Tick check frequently. Hikers in tick country will want to do regular tick checks during the day. Brush those bad boys off or crush them with a fingernail, but don't worry that they are going to burrow in immediately. Ticks like to cruise around for a while before they take a bite.
Post-hike tick check. After your hike you'll want to do a thorough check. One hiker we know changes into a complete set of new clothes back at the trailhead. She puts all of her hiking clothes in a garbage bag and seals it, then does a full body check. Favorite tick burrowing sites include the scalp, waist and other dark places where they can hide.
Back home, take a shower. Consider filling up a bathtub or washbasin and tossing in your hiking clothes. Ticks will float up to the surface. Crush them or flush them down the toilet — note that they can survive a wash and rinse cycle.
Check your backpack. Don't forget to give your backpack a full check too. Leave it outside rather bringing it in your home.
TICK FIRST-AID: FIVE STEPS TO REMOVE A TICKIf a tick has found a place to burrow in on your body, don't panic. While it's possible that the tick has Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, the Pacific Northwest is a "low risk" area for Lyme disease and spotted fever is extremely rare. But don't let that lull you into a sense of security — you do want to get the tick out completely as soon as possible.
Follow these five steps for the best way to remove a tick:
1Use an antiseptic or alcohol wipe to clean the area around the tick.
