Do you worry about Ticks when out in the countryside, on the moors or in the woods?

Or maybe you have never really given it a thought.

Here is our handy all you need to know guide about Tick Prevention.

What Is A Tick?

Ticks are a parasite that are quite similar looking to a spider that feeds on blood when they attach.

How To Identify A Tick

Ticks are small, flat and oval. Young Ticks can be the size of a Poppy Seed while adult Ticks the size of an Apple seed. If a Tick has attached and been feeding it will be much larger and its body will be plump and quite large.

Ticks can range in colour from black, brown, reddish brown, yellowish or a grey white colour.

Ticks have 8 legs, do not have wings and do not jump. Instead Ticks crawl on as you or your pet brush past them.

When Ticks have found a place on your body or your pet the Tick will bite the skin and bury its head in to feed.

Avoid The Areas Ticks Love To Be

When out and about you can avoid Ticks by steering clear or being cautious of the areas they love. Ticks love shady areas, moist woodland, long grassy areas, Heather and Bracken (large Fern).

Keep To Footpaths

When out walking try to stick to paths and trails. You can avoid your dog(s) picking up Ticks by keeping them on leads or away from the vegetation that may run along paths and trails.

Keep Your Skin Covered

Wherever possible keep your skin covered especially legs, feet and ankles. Wear socks over trousers if possible. This will prevent Ticks from being able to attach to the skin and feed.

Insect Repellent

Insect Repellent is an alternative for any uncovered skin or as an extra precautionary. For Insect Repellent to be effective you will need a product that is 20% to 30% Deet.

Avoid Animals

When out in the countryside, on the moorland or in woodland steer clear from petting or getting too close to animals.

Animals to avoid that are known Tick carriers are: Sheep, Horses, Deer, Birds and Hedgehogs.

Shower After Walks

Try your best to shower yourself and children after walks out in the countryside when you arrive home. Try and do this within two hours.

Check your body and your children's carefully. As Ticks prefer warmth and moisture. Pay attention to the scalp and hairline, behind the ears, armpits, groin area and between toes.

Tick Prevention Treatment

You may wish to use a Tick Prevention Treatment for your pet. Tick Prevention Treatment won’t stop Ticks climbing on to or attaching itself to your pet. What the treatment will do is kill the Tick if it tries to feed and it will just drop off.

Do still be cautious if you have been walking in Tick friendly environments. Ticks may still hitch a ride on your pet and transfer on to you. A healthy host to feed on

Check Your Pet After Walking

If you have been walking in Tick friendly environments ensure to check your pet after. You can do this by running your hands along your pet. Ticks that have buried themselves will feel like a bump on the skin.

Do pay attention to your pets head, neck, ears and feet especially between the toes.

Removing Ticks

If you find a Tick on you, your family or your pet remove it as soon as possible. It is very important to not just try and pull the Tick out.

You can remove ticks with a special Tick remover or a pair or fine tweezers.

Secure a hold of the tick as close to the skin as possible.

Pull up steadily, try not to use a jerking movement as you want to remove the Tick in one piece.

Discard the Tick down the Toilet or in a sealed bag. You can kill it with alcohol.

Do not crush a Tick.

Clean the wound, the tweezers or Tick remover and your hands with alcohol rub.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection passed on by Ticks. Symptoms of Lyme Disease can occur from 3 to 30 days.

Symptoms to look out for are:

A rash possibly around the bite area, but can appear anywhere. The rash may get bigger and have a bullseye appearance.

Other symptoms to look out for are: fever, cold chills, fatigue, headaches, muscle and joint aches.

After a period of time more serious symptoms may be: nerve pain, shooting pains, dizziness, shortness of breath and severe headaches and joint stiffness or soreness.

Seek medical advice if you have any of these symptoms and you think you may have or have been bitten by a Tick.

Stay

Here in the North York Moors National Park there is miles upon miles of glorious countryside. So much in fact you’ll want to spend more than the day here. Woodland, Heather Moorland and Coastline all waiting to be explored.

All around the National Park you will find Coastal Villages and Towns, Market Towns and Moors Villages. There is an abundance of places to eat serving local produce. If Cake, Fish and Chips and Ice-cream are your thing then you will be very happy heading off for the day here.

With so much to discover here on the Coast and in the North York Moors why not stay for 2 days, a long weekend, a week or two weeks. Here at Baytown Holiday Cottages we have a whole range of cottages sleeping from 2 to 10 and the dog can come too. Start planning your stay here.