Now that warmer temperatures have arrived in some areas, so have some of the other little critters we expect to see each spring, in particular, TICKS!!! A few Field Services personnel have advised that ticks have been spotted in both the Kamloops and Kelowna areas. As temperatures are rising throughout many areas of the province, we should be aware that ticks are present when out walking, hiking or biking in the hills, wooded areas or grasslands. It is important to take precautions when going out in these type of areas.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the most common ticks in BC are:
· The Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, which can be found in the interior dry belt from the U.S border north to Williams Lake and east to Alberta and,
· The Western Black-Legged Tick, which can be found in the moist coastal areas of Vancouver Island and the mainland?
If you find a tick on yourself, or your beloved pet, and you wish to remove it, be cautious not to crush the tick as this could cause the tick to inject it’s stomach contents into your skin. Please refer to the link below for the most appropriate removal method. For concerns or assistance removing a tick, please contact your family doctor or visit a walk-in medical clinic .
For further information please take a look, and share, the following information, which explains the various types of ticks, preventative measures and precautions you can take when dealing with these little critters. http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/ticksbc.htm. For information regarding ticks and your dogs please follow the provided link: http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Dog-Health-Center/Skin-Disorders/Ticks.aspx.
Also, please click here to view a WorkSafeBC hazard alert for ticks.
Steve Frankel
Click here to look at Lee Valley's Tick Key - works amazingly well!
Ann