If I had a nickel for every time I went camping and came back with a tick…. That’s because I know one or two tricks to keep you away from those foul little creatures!
This article will tell you how to avoid ticks while camping and more useful tips!
Contents
Who are ticks, and why are they biting?
- Let’s talk about the main villain of this article, ticks.
- Ticks are blood-sucking parasites, commonly found in wooded areas, grasslands, and other outdoor areas.
- These parasites bite us for blood. Without our blood, a tick can’t grow and evolve from an egg to an adult form. Once attached, they can feed on the blood of their host for several days or even weeks, until noticed.
- What animals do these parasites hunt on? Almost any moderately sized animals are on the menu: deer, sheep dogs, rodents, but often they target people as well.
The worst thing about these bloodsuckers is not that they drink our blood.
No, it’s even worse. They can transmit dangerous diseases, including:
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- Powassan virus.
- Tularemia.
- Lyme disease.
Dangers of the Lyme disease
Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through bacteria in a tick’s saliva during a bite.
Ticks salivate during feeding to numb your pain during the bite. The longer a parasite is attached to your skin, the bigger the chance that it will transmit a disease to you.
Not every tick can transmit Lyme. They usually first get infected when feeding on rodents, and then they transmit it to humans with their “kisses”.
More than 450,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease yearly. Most people recover quickly with the help of antibiotics. But some are less fortunate.
People with Lyme disease experience:
- Neck stiffness and headache.
- Rash. During the first stages, it’s just a red dot, but then the rash develops a red ring around the outside, resembling a “bull’s eye”.
- Pain and severe swelling in the joints.
- Partial face paralysis.
- Inflammation.
- Pain and numbness in hands and feet.
- Periodical dizziness and breath stiffness.
- Vision problems (conjunctivitis), in rare cases.
Lyme can be fatal in rare cases.
But even if something is rare, it doesn’t mean you’re safe.
It is important to remove the parasite promptly and carefully to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Not just for Lyme transmission, but also Rocky Mountain and other diseases.
What ticks bite humans?
- Blacklegged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks usually spread Lyme. Deer ticks “hunt” for deer mostly, but sometimes they get caught on humans.
- A black-legged tick is not the only culprit, other tick species pose danger (like Dog ticks or Lone Stars), but blacklegged species are the most known troublemakers.
- Ticks are most active during the warmer months, typically from spring through fall. The specific activity period can vary depending on the species of tick and the region.
- Some can even survive the beginning of winter! However, generally, the parasites are most active during spring, and almost all kinds of ticks can bite during that time.
How to avoid ticks while hiking and camping?
Here are the essential tips on how you can save your hide (literally) from those pesky bloodsuckers while camping or being outdoors in general. Avoiding ticks is not impossible.
Upon further reading, you’ll understand that it takes only good clothes, good spray, and a cautious mindset.
Wear proper clothes
Clothing is like your armor, and some armor has a weak spot.
On camping trips, you better wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Something loose to cover bare skin. If you tuck in the clothes, you’ll be even more protected.
Also, wear light-colored clothing so you can easily spot a parasite. A hat or a scarf will protect your head and neck from bites.
You might also want to pick tick-repellent clothing. Such clothes have permethrin, a nontoxic chemical with insecticidal-repellent properties, which is highly effective against ticks. You can replicate the effect by treating clothes with permethrin.
Use tick repellent
Insect repellent works quite well against ticks. Though critters evolve quickly, some repellents work not as well on them. The best tick repellent often contains DEET-based chemicals.
If the repellent has picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone, it’s also good.
The second option is permethrin. You spray it not on your skin but on your clothes and shoes. Often on camping people also treat their tents and sleeping bags with permethrin. The bloodsucker dies on contact with permethrin.
Don’t apply tick repellent to your eyes, mouth, or open wounds.
Avoid tall grass areas
Ticks usually stand on grass or leaves and wait for someone to brush against them, and then they attach themselves to the prey.
With that in mind, stay out of tall grass, leaf litter, or bushy places. Stay on well-maintained trails, ticks there are rare sight populations.
Set up camp in a clear, sunny area
The bloodsuckers don’t like dry places and prefer shady, wet areas. You’ll be able to avoid ticks better if you set up camp in a clear, sunny area. Tick populations thrive in areas with high grasses and leaves, so keep your campsite clear.
It would be even more perfect if you bring chairs for a camping trip. If you don’t sit on the ground, then you’re just a tiny bit more safe.
Check for ticks regularly
Now and then ruffle your clothes for ticks every few hours. For hard-to-reach areas, like back, it will be great if someone helps you to check.
Most often the parasites attach to the following areas:
- In and around the hair.
- In and around the ears.
- Under the arms.
- Inside the belly button.
- Around the waist.
- Between the legs.
- Back of the knees.
Be cautious on your way back
You can accidentally bring the parasite into your home if it grabs onto your clothing unnoticed. To prevent ticks from getting into the tent or house, don’t change your clothes inside.
Put dirty clothes inside a bag so the bloodsuckers are trapped in there. Once you get home, wash and dry your clothes, especially those you wore the most in hot water.
How to treat a tick bite?
You’ve done your best to avoid ticks, but sometimes you just get unlucky. You have a tick on you. What to do now!?
Find ticks on your skin.
After a tick check you find one. Ticks find bare skin the most alluring, so the parasite is probably there. The faster you get rid of the foul creature, the safer. The parasite won’t transmit disease if they’ve only grabbed you for a short moment.
Extract the tick.
Put on the gloves and gently extract the tick with clean tweezers.
After the extraction don’t throw the parasite away! Put the tick in a plastic bag so it could be examined for tick-borne diseases.
Sometimes you don’t have tweezers on you in the middle of the forest. Some people use fingers in that case, but it’s risky. You can use a fine thread-like floss. Tie a thread around the tick’s mouthparts, as close to the skin as possible, then pull to floss upwards.
Place an ice pack.
The bite usually swells a bit. Put a bit of ice on your skin. 15-20 minutes should be enough.
Clean the tick bite.
Rubbing alcohol is a good way to sanitize the area. The procedure is general, like with all wounds. Just before you touch the wound, wash your hands with warm water and some soap.
Take Medicine.
Antihistamines help relieve redness, itching, and swelling. Local anesthetic sprays also help relieve the suffering. You better not use antibiotics, however, as the CDC recommends against them in case of bites.
Visit A Doctor.
To avoid complications and possible Lyme disease, please visit the doctor. The doctor will help you treat tick bites and find out if the parasite is contagious.
Don’t want to call the doctor? Then least watch for the possible Lyme symptoms for 30 days (they include rash, fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling) and call your healthcare provider if you feel one of the symptoms.
How to keep your pet safe from tick bites?
If you know how to avoid ticks while camping, you know most things about protecting your dear pet from those pesky bloodsuckers.
Usually, people bring dogs on a camping trip, so we’ll be talking from the doggy point of view.
- Check your pet for ticks now and then. Ticks like to hide in areas like the head, neck, and ears.
- Remove the tick if you find one. If you find a parasite on your pet, remove the parasite with a pair of tweezers. Grasp the and carefully pull it straight out. Do not twist or crush the bloodsucker. Clean the bite area with soap and water.
- Avoid tick-infested areas. Avoid tall grasses, parks, and hidden trails. The pet can easily wander in such areas during a camping trip.
- Vaccinate your pet. Vaccination helps protect your pet from the most common tick-borne disease.
- Use a repellent. Dog collars often can repel dangerous insects. Spot-on treatments and oral medications are also effective.
Just like people, your dog can get Lyme disease from those parasites. Lyme disease symptoms for dogs are similar to human disease:
- Fever.
- Loss of appetite.
- Tiredness.
- Swelling of joints.
FAQ
Now you know how to avoid ticks while camping. Still, you might have some other questions.
Are ticks common when camping?
Yes, ticks are common when camping, especially in areas with a lot of trees and long grass. A camping trip is like a magnet for a blacklegged tick and other critters.
Can ticks get into tents?
Yes, ticks can get into tents, especially if the tent is not sealed or has torn-away holes. You can cover the holes with tape to be safer.
What do ticks hate the most?
Disease control says that a tick hates N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (also DEET), a chemical for repellents.
Tick also can’t stand too much heat, cold, dryness, light, and scent of certain essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus.
What prevents ticks from getting on you?
Good clothing they can’t grab, unexposed skin, a proper campsite, repellents, and, finally, your watchful eye and careful behavior.
Show the ticks some tricks!
Preventing tick bites is not that hard, as you can see.
I hope that with the above advice and tips Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and even just a regular tick bite will never touch you.