Getting out and communing with nature can be great. But some aspects of nature you may be less enthusiastic about communing with, especially for the sake of your overall health and well-being. Ticks and mosquitoes, in particular, can make your outings frustrating, unpleasant, and even dangerous. Here’s what you need to know about these annoying and harmful pests, if you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors.
Mosquito bites can be genuinely dangerous.
Usually, if you’re bitten by a mosquito, a period of irksome itchiness is the worst that will happen. But these tiny creatures can carry diseases that leave a big impact. In fact, mosquitoes are sometimes considered to be more dangerous to humans than any other creature, due to being a vector for such illnesses as malaria and the West Nile virus. Mosquitos also carry diseases that are harmful to animals. If you live in an area that is warm and damp, preventing mosquito bites may be nearly impossible, but it’s important to know how to treat them, and to consult a medical care provider if you start having symptoms other than itchiness.
Know how to deal with ticks and tick bites.
Ticks are easier to avoid than mosquitoes since they can’t fly. But unlike mosquitoes, ticks latch on, and can be attached to your skin for a good while, without you noticing. Since ticks carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, make sure they don’t spend enough time on your skin to attach. If you’re going to be out in grassy or wooded areas, consider using bug repellant – or, if you’d prefer to take a natural approach, essential oils or protective clothing.
What can you do to prevent being bitten?
Be aware of the environments mosquitoes and ticks prefer. Dense, dark areas can be breeding grounds for ticks, and mosquitoes are known for liking warm wet ecosystems. Knowing this, consider designing the area around your home to deter these pests. Having a lawn that is easy to maintain, without excessive undergrowth or a lot of rotting wood can help. If you need to do a clean-up, call in a tree removal service. Ideally, find a qualified professional tree service through a platform like Angi that will not only cut down dangerous or unsightly trees but also remove brush and grind stumps.
What to do if you find a tick on yourself, your child, or your pet?
If you do find that a tick has embedded itself in your or your pet’s skin, you need to remove it as quickly as possible. A tick can be removed with the help of a special removal tool, a pair of tweezers or even looped dental floss. The reason for this extra precaution is that you want to remove the tick completely, and not leave the head embedded in your or your pet’s flesh. If it’s a deer tick, you may want to save it, in case you suspect Lyme: analyzing the tick can sometimes be more conclusive than getting a Lyme test.
How can you tell if a bite is dangerous?
Again, most bites from ticks of mosquitoes are unlikely to cause disease, but it’s better to play it safe and keep a close eye on any bites you’ve received. If you have been bitten by a mosquito, especially if the bite occurred in areas of the world known for certain diseases, look out for such symptoms as lethargy, fever, chills, nausea, and joint pain. In the case of a tick bite, one common symptom to look out for is the tell-tale bullseye Lyme rash around the site of the bite. However, not every Lyme sufferer gets the rash. Other symptoms to be aware of include fever, fatigue, and joint ache.
Getting bitten from time to time is part of the price you pay for enjoying nature, and typically it’s entirely worth it. Occasionally, the risks can be significant, so know how to avoid bites when possible, and how to treat them, and what to look out for, to be safe.
Want more information on how to help pets and other animals? Contact the Erath County Humane Society.
