As we are all in a situation where we are looking for ways to keep ourselves occupied during this social distancing experience, many people are turning to the great outdoors for some escape. There is nothing better for the soul than fresh air, sunshine and exercise. A popular way to get those three things comes from hiking. This is a favorite among many looking for some wide open spaces and fresh air. A-Tex Pest Management is here to share some tips to help keep you safe from a common pest that would love to hitch a ride home with you when coming in from a hike: ticks.

Inspect Your Body After a Hike

If you are going on daily hikes in areas that are known to have ticks (anywhere with brush, long grass or trees) it is important that you are inspecting your body at least once a day to make sure you don’t have any ticks on your body. These insects don’t fly or jump, but they do have a built in carbon dioxide detector that helps them know where you are when hiking in their area. There are a few places on your body that they are most likely to be found.
– Behind or inside the ears
– In & around hair
– Inside the belly button
– Between legs
– Back of the knees
– Under the arms

Preventing Ticks When Hiking

There are many things you can do to protect yourself as you get that much needed hiking time.
– Repellent: Repellent is a great way to keep ticks off your body. You need to be sure it has at least one of these products in it to be effective: DEET, Picaridin and lemon eucalyptus oil. You can also treat your clothing and gear with a repellent known as permethrin that will remain on the surface even after you have washed it.
– Light Colored Clothing: If you are wearing light colored clothing, it makes it easy to spot a tick when it crawls on you. Darker colors make this much more difficult. Also, try tucking your pants into your boots to avoid ticks crawling under your pant leg.
– Carry Tweezers: It is wise to carry with your fine tipped tweezers in the case that you do come in contact with a tick and need to pull it off your body.
– Shower Immediately: Once you get home, shower immediately with hot water. This is not only a great opportunity to check your body, but if they haven’t burrowed into your skin you can also rinse them off.

Bed Bug Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas

If you have a tick problem on your property, you can count on the experts at A-Tex Pest Management to help you get the problem under control. We have the experience and expertise needed to ensure you don’t have a tick problem anytime soon. Call us today!