Warm weather arrival in Arkansas also means arrival of tick season. Cold harsh winters in Arkansas have little effect on tick populations. Tick species found in Arkansas are adapted to survive harsh winters. Some species survive the winters in leaf litter, soil and other protected sites while a few others may survive the winter on their host.
Arkansas is well known for its abundance of ticks and its fair share of tick-borne diseases. Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia and anaplasmosis are reported nearly every year in Arkansas. Of these illnesses, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis are the most frequently reported tick-borne diseases in the state.
Tips to avoid tick bites:
1. Avoid tick-infested areas when possible. Tick-infested areas may include dense vegetation or tall grass, and the "edge" between open and forested areas.
2. Use tick repellents and apply according to label instructions. Insect repellents containing DEET (on clothing only) and repellents containing permethrin are most commonly used.
3. Check yourself, your children and pets frequently for ticks. Wear light-colored clothing when in tick infested areas, as dark ticks are more easily spotted against a light background. Parents should check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and especially in their hair. Bathe or shower as soon as possible after returning from a tick-infested area to wash off crawling ticks and locate attached ticks.
4. Promptly remove ticks when found. If a tick is removed within a few hours after attachment, the chance of that tick transmitting a pathogen is greatly reduced. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth-parts easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub or soap and water. Examine gear. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats and day packs. Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for an hour to kill remaining ticks. (Some research suggests that shorter drying times may also be effective, particularly if the clothing is not wet.)
5. Create a tick-safe zone in your yard. Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns. Place a 3-foot wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas and around patios and play equipment. This will restrict tick migration into recreational areas. Mow the lawn frequently and keep leaves raked. Stacking wood neatly and in a dry area discourages rodents that ticks feed on. Keep playground equipment, decks and patios away from yard edges and trees and place them in a sunny location, if possible.
6. Know the symptoms of tick-borne disease. If you become sick and see a health care provider, alert them to any tick exposure.
For more on ticks and the diseases they cause, visit our website at http://uaex.edu and search FSA7047 Tick-Borne Diseases in Arkansas.
If you have questions, please call our office at 501-623-6841 or come by at 236 Woodbine.
4-H
There are 4-H clubs for Garland County youths who are 5 to 19 years old. For information, call the Extension Office at 623-6841 or email Linda Bates at [email protected].
EHC
Interested in joining an Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information, call Alison Crane at the Cooperative Extension Office or email [email protected].
Master Gardeners
If interested in becoming a Master Gardener and would like information, the public is welcome to attend their meetings at 1 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Lake Valley Community Church; call the Extension office; or email [email protected].
Society on 06/11/2018