BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) Whether you’re going for a walk in the park or climbing a mountain, ticks can be everywhere. If you find one about you, it is important to know the correct steps to take.
The black-legged tick is the most common in Vermont. According to the Vermont Agriculture Agency, it is responsible for more than 99% of tick-borne diseases in the state.
Patti Casey of the Vermont Agriculture Agency says that people’s natural reaction is to remove the tick right away, but they are supposed to slowly pull out and remove all of the tick. Casey says that as long as she finds the tick early enough, there is a lower risk of Lyme disease.
“The belief is that to transmit almost all of the pathogens known to be present in Vermont, the tick must be attached to your body for at least 24 to 36 hours and become what we call bloated. That means they become full of blood and they get really big and obvious, that’s typically when people find them, “Casey said.
If the tick has broken the skin, be sure to put rubbing alcohol on the bite area.
The most common areas in Vermont to find ticks are the southern and western parts of the state.
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