Ticks
  • Ticks can carry a host of illnesses that are harmful to humans, including Lyme disease.  Their bites can also be painful and annoying to both humans and their pets.
    • Different ticks can be found across the United States, but not all types of ticks carry all diseases; it's unlikely that a tick bite you receive here in Pinetop-Lakeside could result in Lyme disease, but not impossible.  And it's still a good idea to see your doctor if you do have a tick bite so that you can be checked for other conditions, particularly if you develop a rash or fever.
    • Ticks like to live in tall grasses, wooded areas, and on animals.  They're also active year-round, although you're more likely to come into contact with them during the warmer months.
      • If you're going out into the woods or meadows in our area, especially in the summer, it's a good idea to treat your gear (including clothing, boots, tents, and other camping gear) with a tick repellent; the CDC recommends using products containing 0.5% permethrin, which will keep protecting you through several washings.
      • You can also use insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone to protect your skin directly.
        • Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
        • Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
    • If you do get bitten by a tick, it should be removed as soon as possible to reduce the risk of disease.
      • Use 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, since this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin.
      • If it does break off and you are unable to remove the mouth 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 soap and water.
  • For more information, see this site.

Show All Answers

1. Bears
2. Cougars/Mountain Lions
3. Coyotes
4. Elk
5. Javelina/Peccary
6. Raccoons
7. Rodents
8. Skunks
9. Snakes
10. Spiders
11. Ticks
12. Woodpeckers