(New Haven, Conn.)-Tick season is here, presenting a bane to hikers, recreational enthusiasts and those working outdoors.
The arachnids, relatives of spiders, will be around primarily the rest of the year, says Dr. Kirby Stafford of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven.
Deer serve as the primary transmitting host of ticks, though Dr. Stafford says mice and birds are also play a role to a lesser degree.
He says some insecticides can be used, realizing the downside is the potential environmental impact. Fencing can also be effective. Dr Kirby says the EPA is examining products for repellents and lawns, likely to hit the market next year.
He says if you remove a tick bite, bring it to your health department to be examined. He says about thirty percent of those that receive a bite actually get the Lyme disease. If detected early, Dr. Kirby says antibiotics are an effective treatment.
