The issue of ticks is an important one to be aware of on Long Island. Wear light colored clothing and a hat. If you pick up ticks, they will be easier to see. Brushing against bushes or high grasses is the most common way that people pick up ticks. They will walk around on you for a while, searching for an appropriate place before they attach themselves. Ticks can be found in any outdoor location with vegetation; many people pick them up while gardening or playing in their own backyards. If you are walking on a well-maintained trail, you can decrease the chance of picking up one of these unwelcome passengers by staying in the center of the path. Ticks can be active anytime of the year, including a warm winter day. In heavily infested areas it is a good idea to tuck your pants into white socks, and check yourself and a partner periodically. If you see one on you or a friend, don’t be afraid to grab it between your fingers and flick it away.

Ticks do not sting, bite, or jump. The process of a tick connecting to your skin is a relatively slow one. If you pay attention, you will have plenty of time to find them and remove them. If you aren’t allergic to insect repellent, spraying your clothes from your shoes to just above your knees may be prudent. Some people have bad reactions to insect repellent, so try a small amount at first and apply it in an area away from other people. When you return home from a hike always check your body and your clothes carefully for ticks. It is also advisable to launder your clothes after a hike or put your clothes in a dryer on a high setting for twenty minutes. Be aware that a deer tick can be as small as a pinhead, while a dog tick can be a little larger than a sesame seed. The best way to remove a tick once it has become attached to you is with fine-tipped tweezers. Grab the tick at its head, as close to the skin as possible and firmly tug. Do not squeeze the tick’s abdomen, and do not apply petroleum jelly to remove it. A tick bite does not cause disease unless the tick is infected. It can take as much as 36 hours after the tick has started feeding for any disease it may be carrying to be transferred to your bloodstream. After removing the tick, watch to see if a rash develops near the site of removal. If so, contact your doctor. Antibiotics, when prescribed in a timely manner, are effective in treating tick-borne diseases.

Lonestar tick larvae can be picked up in grassy areas most often near water. They create itchy bumps that may persist for weeks. They are most commonly picked up mid-calf or lower and they look like tiny dots. Heavy application of insect repellent around sneakers and socks works to repel them. One time I saw them on my pants and was saved by having some isopropyl alcohol and a rag with me. I had brought these supplies in order to experiment with removing graffiti and was very gratified to find that quickly wiping them off my pants with the alcohol soaked rag worked very well. Alcohol works well in removing these larval mites before they burrow into the skin but won’t help after they have done so. Fortunately, even though they cause fierce itching, they do not transmit diseases and the itch eventually disappears.

Wearing a hat is a good idea for a number of reasons. It will keep the sun and sweat out of your eyes, and insects out of your hair. It is also important to know what a poison ivy plant looks like, so you can avoid it. I often carry Tecnu in my backpack, a special cleansing agent that dissolves the oils of poison ivy.

The one thing you must always take on a hike is water. Carry more water than you think you will need. On longer hikes, it is also important to bring along some food for an energy boost and to replenish your electrolytes. If you follow these simple safety precautions, you should have a fun and hassle-free hike!