As leaves start changing and Colgate's campus turns into a fall postcard, something lurks in the foliage: ticks. Hamilton's cool, wooded environment makes it an ideal home for ticks between April and September, but they are actually active so long as temperatures are above freezing! It is important that we learn how to avoid them, even when we assume they are not a threat.
Why Fall Tick Season Matters
Most people associate ticks with summer camping trips and tall grass, but fall is actually the optimal time for blacklegged "deer" ticks (Ixodes) to transmit Lyme disease. Younger ticks are indeed active earlier in the summer, but in autumn the adult ticks become aggressive in seeking hosts for the winter. Ticks thrive in piles of leaves and the edges of wooded paths — basically all of the aesthetic autumnal spots around campus. While more than 24 hours of attachment are needed to transmit Lyme disease bacteria (which seems like a long time to spot a bite), performing full body checks might seem less feasible for you as your schoolwork and extracurricular commitments ramp up. This is why it is important for you to stay vigilant on a daily basis.
Why to Avoid Tick Bites
Lyme disease is a severe, tick-borne illness that can cause chronic complications. Within three to 30 days of being bitten, if untreated, you may experience these symptoms according to the CDC: the typical Erythema migrans (EM) "bull's-eye" rash, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches and swollen lymph nodes.
If you are not careful about checking yourself for tick bites within this time frame, serious complications can occur in the months following a tick bite:
- Severe headaches, stiffness, facial palsy and vertigo
- Severe arthritic and nerve pains as well as inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
- Heart palpitations and/or irregular heartbeat
These symptoms sound scary, but be assured that ticks are nowhere near invincible. A few simple precautions can keep you safe from Lyme all season long. Colgate’s campus is surrounded by amazing trails and vistas, so you shouldn't let a few arachnids keep you from enjoying them. Preventative measures can ensure that you enjoy campus and that the ticks go home hungry.
How to Prevent Tick Bites
- Cover up: When walking through wooded and grassy areas, make sure to wear long sleeves and long pants. To prevent bites on exposed areas, tuck your pants into your socks. If you are concerned about spotting ticks, wearing light-colored clothing makes them easier to detect.
- Use repellent: You should be applying EPA-approved repellents such as DEET, picaridin or permethrin to deter ticks (note that the permethrin is sprayed on clothes, not the skin). If you’re using sunscreen as well, you should apply repellent after your sunscreen.
- Stick to clear trails: Try to avoid moving through tall grass or sitting in grassy areas. Ticks don’t jump or fly; they "quest" by waiting on the edges of plants with their arms stretched out, waiting to attach to a warm-blooded passerby.
- Perform regular checks: You should always do a full-body tick check after being outdoors. Ticks are drawn to body heat, so they tend to latch in warmer, hidden areas of your skin.
- Keep a watch for ticks even if you are not traveling through a wooded area. While thick leafage does increase the likelihood of ticks, this does not mean that you cannot be bitten by a tick in plain grass!
What to Do If You Find a Tick
Prevention methods are largely effective, but nothing can deter ticks permanently. If you follow these steps but still spot a tick on you, don't panic or grab it with your fingers. You should also not wait to see a provider if one is not immediately available; the longer you leave the tick on you, the greater the chance of contracting a tick-borne illness. Instead, follow these guidelines from the CDC:
- "Grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible using clean fine-tipped tweezers. If fine-tipped tweezers are not available, use regular tweezers or your fingers to grasp the tick. Grasp the tick close to the skin's surface to avoid squeezing the tick's body.
- Pull the tick away from the skin with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick. This can cause the tick mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, your body will naturally push the mouthparts out over time as your skin heals. You can also remove the mouthparts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouthparts easily with tweezers, leave them alone.
- Dispose of the live tick by taking one of these steps: place it in a sealed container; wrap it tightly in tape; flush it down the toilet; or put it in alcohol. Do not crush the tick with your fingers.
- After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer.
- If you find a tick attached to you, there may be other ticks on your body. Do a careful tick check to look for other ticks and promptly remove them."
The CDC also offers a free and comprehensive Tick Bite Bot which can personally instruct you on how to remove a tick. This is a great resource if you find a tick in an unusual or difficult location, lack the tools to remove it, etcetera.
Summary
While it is important to avoid tick and Lyme-related complications, you shouldn't let ticks deter you from experiencing campus or venturing into the woods. You should, however, best prepare yourself and others for the risk. If you want to discuss any concerns you have about ticks, or have concerns about a recent tick bite or concern for Lyme disease, you can contact Student Health Services at studenthealth@colgate.edu or call them at (315)-228-7750, free of charge. If you have concerns at a time when Student Health Services is closed, you can also contact Urgent Care at 315-648-6411.
Stay safe, and happy hiking!