Deer ticks are sneaky, but with a thorough self-check, you can stay one step ahead. Their bite is painless, they are very tiny and hard to see, and they tend to bite us in places we don’t look. Such as the groin area and genitals, creases of the knee or elbow, on the head in our hair, in our ears or under the ear flap, the armpits, and so on. After spending time in areas where ticks may be present, such as in fields and woodlots in the northeast, do a self-check on yourself for ticks. Remember, self-checks are crucial, but they are also thorough and effective.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. The disease is no longer rare; it is common and caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks (deer ticks). Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and sometimes, but not always, a characteristic bullseye skin rash called erythema migrans. Only about 35 percent of those affected by an infected deer tick bite show a visible sign of Lyme disease with the bullseye rash. That means about 2/3 of those bit by a deer tick with Lyme disease have no visible symptoms. If left untreated, Lyme disease infection can spread to joints, the heart, the nervous system and bodily organs. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash, blood tests, etc.), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks.

To avoid deer ticks, apply odorless Permethrin (Sawyer Products) on your boots, shoes, and exterior camo clothing for manual external chemical protection from deer ticks. Use Picaridin (Sawyer Products) on any exposed skin. Each cost $10-$13 at your local outdoor store or Walmart. Both products are odorless when they dry. To use the Permethrin, spray your exterior hunting garb the day before and let it dry thoroughly. It is suitable for 5-6 weeks, including six washings without reapplication.

For non-chemical protection, consider using Rynoskin. Made from a stretch-like synthetic product, Rynoskin is a defensive type of protection created to block insect bites by creating a base layer of lightweight material to wear under your clothes. A Rynoskin suit consists of socks, gloves, pants, tops, and a hoodie. It is light and breathable, provides UV protection, is made in the

Permethrin is an insect repellent for shoes and exterior clothing, suggested for deer tick bite prevention. Cost is about $12-$15. Photo courtesy of Forrest Fisher

USA, and gives the hunter head-to-toe protection from deer ticks. Rynoskin is machine washable and suitable for tumble drying. You can find Rynoskin at Amazon, Tractor Supply, Walmart and many other retail outlets. The whole suit costs about $150. Worth every penny. I wear it, and so does every member of my hunting family. We also use Permethrin on our outerwear and Picaridin on our exposed skin. You can’t be safe enough.

If you discover a deer tick embedded in your skin, it’s imperative to act quickly. Use tweezers to carefully remove it, then preserve it in a tissue and place it in an old prescription bottle. The next step is crucial: Send the tick to Ticknology, 1612 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521. They will analyze the tick for Lyme disease and provide you with the results in just a few days. The cost is $35, but the peace of mind it brings is priceless.

To identify Lyme disease with symptoms, coordinate with your medical professional. Local medical professionals typically use a blood test. Laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. If not caught early, the treatment is long, arduous, and can be life-long. Three of my grandkids had advanced Lyme disease; it took three years each to overcome it, and they were young and strong. Also, suppose the initial local Lyme panel tests (western blot test) on a blood sample are negative, including PCR (polymerase chain reaction), but Lyme disease symptoms are present. In that case, the Lyme Dot-blot assay from a company called IGeneX can be helpful for advanced diagnosis. Visit their website to learn more about details at https://igenex.com/.

If you are unsure that you have been bitten by a deer tick infected with Lyme disease because you feel a recent onset of arthritic pains, malaise and more, you can order a home self-test kit from IGeneX and send it in by mail. It is a urine-based test. The home test kit costs $85, and other tests have various prices. The IGeneX lab has been reliable in our family experience. To learn about the details of this simple test, visit https://igenex.com/test-directory/product/lyme-dot-blot-1-sample/.

‘Nuff said. Stay prepared. Stay protected while in the woods or working in your garden or landscaping.

CALENDAR

Oct. 1-Nov. 15: NYS Southern Zone early big game archery season.

Oct. 17: Southtowns Walleye Association, monthly meeting, 7 p.m. start, 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.

Oct. 19: Regular WNY pheasant season opens.

Oct. 19-Nov. 1: NYS Southern Zone fall turkey season.

Oct. 22: Fly Fishing and Fly-Tying Class, free, 7-8:30 p.m., with Alberto Rey, Costello Room, Rockefeller Arts Center, SUNY Fredonia. Info: email reya@fredonia.edu.

Nov. 2-15: NYS Southern Zone crossbow big game season

Nov. 16-Dec. 8: NYS Southern Zone Regular (firearm) big game season

Dec. 9-17 and Dec. 26-Jan. 1: NYS Southern Zone late bowhunting season