Warm Winter Weather and Ticks.
This year’s mild winter comes with the price of ticks making an early arrival. The winter weather usually brings the benefit of keeping ticks away. But the relatively warm winter we have enjoyed this year means the Lyme disease-carrying pests could be arriving earlier than usual this year.
Ticks bring with them the risk of Lyme disease for both pets and humans. Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache, fatigue, skin rash, and muscle and/or joint pain that can last for weeks.
According to the state Department of Health and Human Services, younger ticks are active in the spring and summer months while the older ticks are more active in the fall. The younger ones are more likely to bring the threat of infecting a person with Lyme disease. It is important to wear protective clothing and use insect repellents containing DEET to help prevent the ticks from biting and spreading the disease.
It is also important for pet owners to protect their pets with the proper medications to ward of these pests. It is best to consult a Veterinarian and start a monthly treatment plan. Most over the counter remedies have been around so long that ticks have become resistant to them.
(Information taken from an article published in the Union Leader on March 9, 2012.