Jo Ellis, Bay Area Lyme Foundation
Constant risk assessment—whether you are leading or participating in a trip—is all part and parcel of being an avid outdoors junkie. We spend a lot of time thinking about and planning for the things that could go wrong and making contingency plans for accidents and encounters with nature. But, believe it or not, one of the biggest current threats facing outdoor warriors is typically smaller than a poppy seed: a questing tick. And all across the country, early spring is nymph season for ticks—the time to be most cautious.
Ticks can carry several very serious and ultimately debilitating infectious diseases, including Lyme disease, one of the fastest-growing infectious diseases in the U.S. and Western Europe. Lyme disease is caused by the spread of the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi to humans through the bite of infected Eastern Blacklegged Ticks (deer ticks) and Western Blacklegged Ticks.
More than 329,000 new cases of Lyme disease are contracted each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s more than HIV/AIDS, West Nile virus, and malaria combined. And as many as 1 million Americans may be suffering from the impact of its debilitating long-term symptoms and complications, due to the difficulty of diagnosing and treating Lyme disease and its complex constellation of co-infections, according to Bay Area Lyme Foundation estimates.
The highest reported incidence of Lyme disease correlates to the times when nymphal ticks are most active. This is true even in northwest California, where a temperate climate allows ticks to be active throughout the year. Experts believe this is probably because these younger ticks, which are smaller than a poppy seed, can be very hard to detect.
The good news is that ticks can’t fly, jump, or run. But they do “quest”—hang out on leaves, blades of grass, and branches, poised to grab onto a warm body passing by. This perching for a free ride (and meal!) is how they ensure their survival.
If you keep to the center of trails and avoid brushing up against high grasses or other vegetation, your
Be Vigilant About Tiny Dangers This Spring
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