Ticks pose Summer threat in Southeast Idaho: Here’s how to protect you, your family and your pets

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Ticks may be tiny, but they can carry serious diseases, making prevention especially important during outdoor activities like hiking, camping, or even working in your yard.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare warns that local insects carry several diseases of concern. In southeast Idaho, ticks are known to spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, and tularemia.

One way ticks jump into your home is through your pets.

"So normally ticks are outside and are brought in from pets going outside and coming inside. Most commonly grassy areas, wooded areas, places with high grass such as fields. But they can get into your yard," Elise, a Certified Veterinary Technician at the Idaho Falls Veterinary Hospital, said.

"A bite can cause a disease that might seriously impact your health. It’s important to do everything you can to avoid getting bitten," said IDHW in a 2022 news release.

This year can be especially bad for ticks in Southeast Idaho due to the unusually warm winter, and it's taking a toll on veterinary clinics.

"The fact that we had such a mild winter does give them a longer breeding season, and we do expect to see a lot more ticks this year," Elise said.

Removal is important especially to ensure that the tick is successfully removed.

"If you find a tick on your pet, stay calm [and] ideally, you want to get tweezers and then you want to grasp it firmly where it meets the skin and then pull with constant pressure," Elise. said

The CDC recommends several simple steps to reduce your risk:

Before going outside

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or similar ingredients
• Wear long sleeves and long pants when possible
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin for added protection

While outdoors

• Stay in the center of trails and avoid tall grass and brush
• Be cautious in wooded or shaded areas where ticks are common

After coming inside

• Check your entire body for ticks, especially under arms, behind knees, and around hairlines
• Shower within two hours to wash off unattached ticks
• Put clothes in the dryer on high heat to kill any ticks