Ticks Out Early In NH (You Can Thank A Mild El Niño Winter For That)

New Hampshire — A mild El Niño winter in New Hampshire means ticks are out early and may already be attaching themselves to dogs — and you — and potentially spreading serious diseases.

The emergence of ticks, carriers of Lyme disease, babesiosis and other diseases, is usually a mid-spring occurrence, but even in typically wintry Minnesota, deer ticks were out in early February, according to pest-control officials in the Twin Cities.

Tick species to be on the lookout for in New Hampshire include the American dog tick, blacklegged tick, brown dog tick, and the lone star tick.

Diagnosing a tick-borne illness can be tricky because symptoms may not develop for up to 30 days in some cases. People who have been infected often feel like they have a cold or flu in the beginning. That’s when they should go to the doctor, because if left untreated, more serious complications, and even death in rare cases, may develop, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC monitors where tick-borne diseases have been reported and what you should do if you suspect you’re sick. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness and is found in a range that includes the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, as well as the Pacific Northwest. Other common diseases spread by ticks include babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, Powassan virus disease, tick-borne relapsing fever and tularemia.

Tick-borne diseases that have been reported in New Hampshire include Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, and spotted fever rickettsiosis, according to CDC data.

Symptoms can vary depending on the specific illness, but tick-borne diseases often cause fever and chills, aches and pains, and a rash.

Ticks can make dogs sick with many of the same diseases as humans. Cats are susceptible to Lyme disease.

Because symptoms lag, the best thing to do is protect yourself against ticks when you’re in places they’re likely to be found — grassy, brushy and wooded areas, or even your backyard. Some tips from the CDC:

• Wear socks and boots, and tuck your pants into your boots. Cover your hair as well.
• Tick-specific insect repellents can help, too. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin.
• Talk to your veterinarian about tick treatments for cats and dogs.
• Check yourself for ticks daily, especially under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and on the hairline and scalp.
• Shower soon after being outdoors.

If you do find a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. The key is to remove the tick as soon as you find it or are able to. Using nail polish, petroleum jelly or heat to make the tick detach from the skin won’t work.

Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause its mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If you are unable to remove the mouth parts easily, leave them alone and let the skin heal.

After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.