Tick Talk

Author: Darian Cannard, Social Media & Marketing Coordinator with Cabin Operations

Today we’re talking about the blood-sucking vampire of the woods!

No, not bats.

Unfortunately, we’re talking about our 8-legged enemy: the tick.

No, no, no! Not that tick!

This tick…

It’s tick talk time.

I have unfortunately been bit by three of these nasties. None of them with Cabin, thankfully! A few years ago, I had three crawling on me in one day. Which led to the nickname “Tick Magnet” in the work schedule. So, I feel like I can speak to them a bit – but I’m certainly no expert!

If you work in forestry (or any outdoor resource job), enjoy hiking or camping, own a doggo, or spend any amount of time in nature really…

Listen up!
(or in this case, read on)

Because the more you know about these arachnids, the better prepared you will be to deal with them!

First. A few myths vs facts! Because the more you know, the more you know…

Myth: Ticks are only seasonally active during the spring.
Fact: They are the most active from March – August. BUT they can be active in any temperature above 4°C. So those warm February days we get? Well, ticks could be on the move.

Myth: Ticks can jump.
Fact: This is untrue – none of their 8 legs are jumping legs. Their legs are quite sticky though and they are exceptionally good climbers. After they attach to their host, they climb up toward carbon dioxide vents and warm areas of the body.

Myth: Tick bites hurt. You’ll know when you’re being bit.
Fact: You won’t feel a tick bite you. They secrete a numbing agent when they bite.

Myth: I’ll just burn it off or apply vaseline/nail polish remover to it so it releases.
Fact: Burning it off will likely just end up with you burning yourself. And any of the above could result in the tick regurgitating its stomach contents into you. Ticks can carry all sorts of pathogens and having them regurgitate only increases the odds of you getting sick.

Myth: It takes 24-48 hours of the tick being attached for a disease to be transmitted.
Fact: Nope. Nope. Nope. These dirty buggers carry all sorts of diseases. Some of which can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes (Powassan virus – Ontario). But also, YES. In general the longer it’s attached, the higher the odds.

Now that we’ve dispelled a few of the common misconceptions about our least favourite part of the outdoors. Let’s talk about a couple of these creeps in further detail.

There are over 20 species of ticks throughout British Columbia but we’re going to talk about the Wood Tick (American dog tick/Rocky Mountain wood tick) and the Deer Tick (Western Black Legged Tick).

The Wood Tick (aka. Dog Tick)

They are reddish brown and the white “shield” on top near the head is its distinguishing feature.

Commonly found in drier, open, rocky areas this jerk hangs out on grass blades and shrubs. These are common throughout most parts of the province. They lie in wait for something warm-blooded to walk by before latching on.

The Wood tick can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) among other tick-borne illnesses and they can also cause tick paralysis. Thankfully, these illnesses are less common in BC. And tick paralysis is more common in our 4-legged best friends, not in us.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever symptoms include:

Fever (go figure)
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Stomach Pain
Muscle Pain
Lack of Appetite
Rash

The rash associated with RMSF occurs 2-4 days post-bite and appears as small, splotchy, pink/red spots. It often starts on the wrists, forearms, and ankles but can spread to your torso.

The Western Black-Legged Tick (aka. Deer Tick)

Gross right? I know.

These jerks have either red or black bodies with, you guessed it, black legs.

They are often encountered in moist, warm climates throughout the province. Their common range is from the Gulf Islands/Vancouver Island and as far east as the Boston Bar area.

The Western Black-Legged Tick is the main carrier of Lyme disease. Lyme disease has seen an increase over the years as these ticks’ livable range grows throughout the province.

Lyme Disease symptoms include:

Fever
Headache
Muscle and joint pain
Fatigue
Rash

The rash associated with Lyme disease is easy to identify!

What does that look like to you? I’ll give you a second…

Yep, a bullseye! As in, you know exactly where that creepy tick bit you! How convenient and insulting considering you never felt a thing! Or maybe you did notice it when you pulled it off in frustration and disgust.

Either way, this is a very important symptom to watch for! If you see the bullseye – seek medical attention ASAP. The sooner you are on antibiotics the better your chances of nixing Lyme disease. If you ignore the bullseye rash, you run the risk of having long-term effects from Lyme disease. We don’t want that.

Check out this lyme risk areas of BC map put together by B.C. Centre for Disease Control to see if places you live or recreate in are at a higher risk.

Those are just two of the more common ticks. But you get the idea! If a flat, ovalish, 8-legged arachnid is climbing around on you… it is likely a tick. And keep in mind that during their different life stages, their size can range from the size of a poppy seed to a sesame seed! Let’s not talk about how chonky they get when they’re engorged (it’s bigger than you’d think).

Remember that although the risk for any tick-borne disease is low, it’s never zero. And as the range of these ticks increases so does the risk for illness.

So, what can we do about it?

Well, now that your skin is crawling it’s time to talk about prevention. Not having them embedded in your skin or on your clothing at all is obviously the ideal situation. And there are a few ways to do that!

When you’re out hiking – stay on the trail. The more bushwhacking you do the higher your chances of them hitching a ride on you.
Wear light-colored clothing. They are easier to spot so you can find them before they find your skin.
Tuck your pant legs into your socks.
Use a repellant with DEET, permethrin or picaridin. You can even treat your clothing with permethrin spray as an extra measure!
DO DAILY TICK CHECKS. I can’t stress this enough.
Carry a tick-removal device with you for quick removal. Just in case.

In forestry, it’s impossible to avoid ticks. Bushwhacking is a part of the job. Sometimes, in thick areas having branches, grasses, etc.… not touch you, simply isn’t feasible. Again, three in one day here! Therefore, tick checks are crucial.

When you are finished with your hike/work, always do a quick check before you get into your vehicle. If you don’t, they could crawl onto your seats and lie in wait there for days after. I like to hang my head upside down, run my fingers through my hair, and feel my scalp. Then brush my clothing off with my hands. (Pro-tip – lint rollers work FANTASTIC for this!) If you have an amigo with you, ask them to check your back.

And check your dog too! Our furry friends are perfect transport vessels for ticks! And remember to get tick medication for your doggo! Unfortunately, there aren’t any medications for humans against tick-borne diseases but there are for dogs! So do it! Take care of your adventure buddy!

When you get home, it’s time for a more thorough check.

Inspect your gear! Check your backpack, hat, etc.… before putting it away.
Remove your clothing and check each piece as you do. Check the folds and cuffs. You could go the extra step and tumble dry for 10-15 minutes on hot to kill any that you couldn’t see. Try and do this in a well-lit, non-carpeted area. If one goes flying into the shag carpet of your 70’s style living room – good luck finding it!
Pre-shower time! Remember, ticks are attracted by CO2 and warmth. Check behind your knees, your groin, around the waist, inside your belly button, your armpits, your ears (I once had one crawling in my earlobe…), and finally your hair and scalp. A fine-tooth comb works well to pull them out of your hair. Use the mirror or your partner to check your back!
Finally, shower away!

If you find any ticks, kill them. A few ways to do this are:

Drown it in rubbing alcohol
Flush it down the toilet
Freeze it and dispose of it in the garbage
If you’re out and about, you can crush it in between some rocks

That last one is a little bit vindictive but quite satisfying. Make sure you crush it dead though; they are hardy buggers!

Now. If you do end up having a tick embedded in you. Don’t panic! Don’t scream like a small child and rip it out of your skin like a maniac. I did this when I got bit by my first tick. Ripping them out risks leaving their mouth parts in your skin which can cause infection. Learn from my mistake.

There are a lot of wrong ways to remove ticks and a few generally agreed upon right ways.

There are many different tools on the market. Tools like the tick twister, tick tornado, and tick key. And they all work! But honestly, some good ol’ needle-nose tweezers work just as well.

You simply grab the tick by the head as close to your skin as you can and pull it straight up and out.

No twisting
Don’t grab the body – grab the head!
Please, no home remedies
Check for any remaining mouth parts after removal
Sanitize the area

Place it in a container or bag. Write down when you got bit, the location of the bite on you as well as where in the province and how long the tick was embedded. Then contact your health care provider for identification if google isn’t cutting it for ya.

Alternatively, you can submit a photo to https://www.etick.ca/ for identification!

Watch for the symptoms we talked about in the days following your bite. Seek medical attention if you develop a fever, headache, muscle/joint pains and/or a rash. And bring the tick with you that you saved – you sentimental being you!

Whew!

You made it!

It’s not a fun topic to chat about but tick safety is important. Thanks for sticking with me. This wasn’t made to scare you out of enjoying the great outdoors! So please keep doing awesome things outside! These are simply some tips and education to keep you informed and safe out there.

Happy Adventures!

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Image Sources:

Black-legged Tick Ladislav Kubeš / Getty Images/iStockphoto
Female wood tick https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/tick-safety.htm
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Rash https://step2.medbullets.com/infectious-dis/120065/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever
Western black-legged Tick https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/33878
Black-legged Tick Rash https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/rashes.html
Tick Sizes https://www.torontohumanesociety.com/lets-talk-about-ticks/
Tick Hiding Spots https://bcparent.ca/top-10-hiding-places-for-ticks/
Tick Removal Diagram https://ticksafety.com/removal-prevention/proper-tick-removal/