Warmer weather means more time outdoors, which also means more potential for exposure to ticks.
The most common ticks in Kentucky are the lone star tick, the blacklegged tick, and the American dog tick. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife says that any tick bite should be taken seriously due to the potential for illnesses such as Lyme disease, which is of growing concern in the commonwealth.
Before going outdoors, use EPA-registered insect repellents, treat clothing with products containing permethrin, and take precautions when walking through wooded or brushy area, tall grass, and wood or leaf piles.
After spending time outdoors, perform tick checks, shower, and tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes. If a tick is found attached to the skin, remove it as soon as possible. Use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull with steady pressure, then clean the area of the bite and wash your hands. If symptoms of an illness arise within a few weeks, get medical attention and tell them about the tick bite.
Kentuckians can contribute to tick research by looking up the Kentucky Tick Surveillance Project, which is run by the University of Kentucky.
