UConn Extension: 'Don't Bug Out' On The Trails

STORRS, CT — The UConn Extension program has a message for those using the states hiking and recreation trails during the warmer months — "Dont's bug out."

The extension supplements the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection with its management of more than 2,000 miles of trails in the state. Private organizations, land trusts, and municipalities manage thousands of additional miles.

One of the roles of the UConn Extension is to help residents avoid ticks, mosquitoes, and stinging insects while out on a hike.

Every state has ticks and the species and vector-borne diseases vary in each region, extension officials said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists seven species to watch for and their geographic locations and, in Connecticut, the blacklegged tick, commonly referred to as the deer tick, causes plenty of angst because it can be a carrier of Lyme disease, extension officials said.

"Tick season is getting longer. Spring starts sooner in many parts of the country and fall lasts longer," extension officials said while offering several tips to avoid ticks, mosquitoes and stinging insects while enjoying the state's trails.

Here is a summary:

Before You Go

• Choose light-colored clothing because it is easier to see a tick or insect on it.
• Wear long sleeves and pants when possible.
• Find an insect repellent that deters ticks, mosquitos, and other insects.
• Walk, ride, or run in the middle of the trail, avoiding the grass and brush on the edges where the ticks are.

The Post-Hike Check

• Check yourself, loved ones, and pets for ticks after your time outside.
• Remove ticks immediately if you find them.
• Use tweezers to remove a tick and try not to crush the head or leave it in the skin.
• Test or dispose of the tick after it is removed.

Test Those Ticks

The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory is part of the UConn Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. The lab offers tick testing as one of its many diagnostic and disease surveillance services. CVMDL is the only veterinary diagnostic laboratory in New England that is accredited with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.

Here's an overview:

• It's best to submit a tick to the lab for identification, a Lyme disease test, or a comprehensive panel that includes multiple diseases.
• Testing benefits you and public health in general. First, you will know what type of tick bit you and any diseases it was carrying, information that can be shared with a medical professional if needed.
• CVMDL records all ticks and any diseases carried as part of their disease surveillance program, in conjunction with other labs and agencies.

"Ideally, a walk in the woods does not include ticks, mosquitos, or stinging insects," extension officials said. "Taking preventative measures can help avoid that situation and enjoy the time outdoors."

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Visit Ask UConn Extension for more information on trails, active living, health, and well-being.