You Won’t Be Happy To Hear That Buffalo Is Experiencing A Major Surge Of Ticks This Year
By Lea Monroe
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Published May 07, 2019
As residents of one of the largest cities in the state of New York, you may think that Buffalo is far away from all the pesky side effects that come along with living amongst Mother Nature… but think again. This winter, the Queen City saw a great deal of snow and frigid temperatures, but it wasn’t enough to freeze things over to the point of keeping pesky critters like ticks at bay. If you haven’t already had any run-ins with ticks this year, consider yourself lucky, as it’s expected to be a particularly bad tick season. Here’s what you should know:
Don't let Buffalo's urban area fool you - our residents won't be out of danger's sight when it comes to this year's major surge of ticks.
You may already have your eye on this rising issue, as a whopping 2 million people in America are expected to have some form of a drug-resistant Lyme disease by the year 2020.
Western New Yorkers are generally familiar with the threat of ticks, but experts are predicting that this year could be substantially worse than usual.
Since 2017, the tick population and number of documented cases of Lyme disease have been rapidly rising. Between the years 2004 and 2016, more than 69,000 cases of tick-borne illnesses were reported in New York State.
If you spend time outdoors around Buffalo, you may have noticed more and more tick warning signs popping up over the last couple of years.
Unfortunately, simple bug sprays used to fend off mosquitos aren’t adequate protection from tick bites. This year, in particular, you’ll want to be extra cautious and increase preventative measures to avoid the dangers of ticks and the diseases they carry.
This
map generated using CDC data shows that New York's Great Lakes Region has been significantly impacted by ticks carrying Lyme disease.
Both nymphs and adult ticks capable of spreading diseases, so keep an extra close eye out for these small but dangerous pests. They can be as tiny as sesame seeds, so a passing glance likely won’t be enough to spot them.
Young ticks - which are typically about the size of a pen point - will begin to become active around the Queen City between mid-May and mid-August, which means we're just now getting into the heart of this savage season.
Ticks can become active at any point once temperatures remain above 45 degrees, so the spring season can be particularly dangerous, as many people underestimate their prevalence and aren’t as vigilant as they should be.
Here are some helpful tips to stay safe from ticks in Buffalo this season:
When exploring outdoor areas - even in Buffalo’s urban areas - wear insect repellants that contain DEET. Many bug sprays don’t ward off ticks, so make sure the one you’re using is appropriately protective.
Wearing light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks, as they tend to blend in with darker colors.
According to the official Erie County website , it takes 36-58 hours for a tick that is attached to you to transmit bacteria into your bloodstream.
Showering after spending time outdoors is always a good idea, but make sure you are performing regular tick checks. Don’t forget to check your pets too!
If you do end up with a tick bite, keep a close eye out for symptoms of Lyme disease once the tick is removed. If you experience a fever, headaches, fatigue, or notice the distinctive bull’s eye rash around the bite site, visit a doctor as soon as possible.
If you find a tick attached to your skin, the CDC recommends carefully removing it using fine-tipped tweezers as soon as possible. Grasp it as closely to the skin as possible and pull steadily upwards. Don’t twist it, as this can cause portions of the tick’s mouth to break off and remain in your skin, and don’t attempt to crush a tick with your fingers, as this can also expose you to bacteria it may be carrying. Clean the bite site thoroughly with rubbing alcohol.
Once removed, place the tick in a plastic container or bag. You can have the tick tested for disease when you get checked out by your doctor or via websites like
TickReport .
For more information about ticks and the danger they present in Erie County, click here .
Wondering what else is new with the Queen City? Then take a look at how Here Are The 10 Cheapest Yet Greatest Places To Live Near Buffalo!
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