terrain May/June 2021
27
HEADING TO THE GREENWAYS?
Use the right side of the trail and pass on left. Announce your presence when passing. Wear a helmet every time you ride. Keep pets leashed and close. Properly dispose of trash to keep greenways clean.
Here's some things to know before you "Lego!"
Find a greenway near you to enjoy and explore at:
GreatRiversGreenway.org
right away and get started on doxycycline or amoxicillin. Remedies like a hot match, fingernail polish, petroleum jelly, and rubbing alcohol were once thought to cause the tick to self-detach, but studies disprove that. Instead, all you need is a pair of tweezers. (Tip: Bring tweezers on your hikes in case you find an attached tick.) To remove a tick: Use tweezers to grasp the tick near its mouth parts (as close to your skin as possible); Pull firmly and straight out; Place the tick in a sealed container or bag and put in the trash; Wash your hands and site of the bite; Apply antiseptic to the bite.
Preventing Tick Bites
The best way to avoid a bacterial infection is prevention. Here are some tips from the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. Wear tick-repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Spray clothing and gear with permethrin, an insecticide that kills ticks on contact. Sprays or dips are effective for two to six weeks and last through multiple washings. Insect Guard will treat your clothes if you mail them in. Purchase bug-repellent clothing such as BugsAway, made by ExOfficio. The brand is available locally at REI and Alpine Shop, although both stores say shipments have been limited recently. Wear long pants and tuck them into your shoes. Light- colored clothing and socks improve the odds of seeing ticks on clothing before they attach. Wear a hat. Tuck long hair under your hat. Walk in the center of trails to reduce contact with ticks. Inspect your clothing, skin, and scalp immediately after hiking or spending time in a park. Check inside skin folds, behind ears, the belly button, groin, hairline, and scalp. If one tick is found, search thoroughly for others. Pets can carry ticks and develop Lyme disease, too, so make sure they're wearing tick collars or are taking flea and tick medication.
nature
Lindsay Wolff and her husband, Nate.
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