HikeArizona.COM

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I never thought twice about potential tick issues in Arizona ... I wonder if they are planning to release a more specific location than "mountain areas of southern Arizona."

I've picked up enough ticks over the years while hiking in this state to have developed the habit of spraying my pants legs with bug spray. They're not real common, but they are out there, and it only takes one bite ...

The dog and I BOTH got ticks in LaBarge Canyon, Superstitions.... he got real sick, lost 10lbs, had to order special meds from the vet (forgot what they were)... I was lethargic for a few days; numbed my left arm and left leg at times..... nasty pumpkins.

Is there a season for ticks?

Peter_Medal wrote: was lethargic for a few days; numbed my left arm and left leg at times.....

what did you actually contract?

Widowmaker wrote:Is there a season for ticks?

If there's ticks in the Supes, I expect you could get them year round. In NJ, you're only (mostly) safe in the dead of winter.

@Tough_Boots
They say that once you get Lyme Disease you will always have Lyme Disease.....

From the web: Lyme disease causes a rash, often in a bull's-eye pattern, and flu-like symptoms. Joint pain and weakness in the limbs also can occur. People may experience:
Pain areas: in the joints or muscles
Whole body: fatigue, fever, or malaise
Joints: stiffness or swelling
Also common: bull's-eye pattern rash or headache

I was very fatigued the days following my LaBarge Canyon Loop, with headache, and paint/weakness in joints and limbs (left leg and left arm)..... after a few days I was fine and have not had any recurring incidents since.

The tick removed from my back was removed WRONGLY (via a burnt match)....during the hike I felt a sharp pain in the area where he attached himself, almost like someone stabbed me with an Icepick.... when reached around there was nothing there...the tick did not reveal himself until I got out of the shower that evening.

@Peter_Medal
While it is a misconception that you can't get Lyme Disease in Arizona (you can), it's still very rare here.

See this map:


Maricopa County Health Department reports fewer than 10 cases per year ... and ALL of them from people who contracted it from out of state.

My mom has it (lives in Connecticut) and I can tell you that if you think that's the cause of your illness, I'd recommend having a doctor diagnose it and begin treatment asap. While you can't get rid of it, you can eliminate the problems it causes. My mom has not had any symptoms for several years.

Good luck.

chumley wrote:While it is a misconception that you can't get Lyme Disease in Arizona (you can), it's still very rare here.

Ticks carry quite a few other diseases, although I have no idea which of them occur in AZ. I've had enough tick bites that I should be over my aversion to the little monsters, but few things make my skin crawl like finding a tick.

big_load wrote:few things make my skin crawl like finding a tick

You and me both!

On the Deer Creek/Thunder River Grand Canyon trip I was on last October, I removed a tick on the back of my daughter's leg that I noticed on our climb out of the esplanade. She mentioned she saw a tick at the Upper Tapeats campsite so maybe she got it then, we don't know.

I got a grand total of one tick on me in AZ and that was in Kofa Nat'l Wildlife Refuge.

The Center for Disease Control says tick season is upon us!

Use insect repellent such as DEET and similar flea and tick control products for animals.

The CDC recommends frequent checking of your hiking partners hair, arms, inside the belly button, in and around the ears, behind knees, between the legs and around the waist. I'm available Saturday if anyone wants to hike!

Stay on wide trails, walking in the center. Preferably designated and groomed pathways in open space. Ticks often fling off blades of grass as you brush by grasping you with their front legs. Beware of ticks auditioning for Tarzan.

Light-colored, long-sleeved clothing is best. Tuck shirts into pants. Likewise tuck pants into socks. Less exposed skin is best.

Thoroughly inspect your pack, gear and pets before bringing them indoors. Shower within two hours of being outdoors, conducting a full-body tick inspection.

Tick Removal
Don't panic. Grasp the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
Avoid twisting the tick. Thoroughly clean the area and your hands after removal.

© 2017 HikeArizona.com

I'm not a doctor but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night and the brochure on ticks said not to do this.

If you're heading to the Northeast to hike (or do pretty much anything outside) this year, scientists are predicting a very bad season for deer ticks, the ones that cause Lyme.

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsod ... -northeast

I had it a few years ago--not fun!

@chumley
Repellent - Negative
Checking your partner - Fat Chance (let alone all the locations)
Wide Trails - Negative
Groomed Trail - Negative
Light-colored - Mostly
long-sleeved clothing is best - Negative
Tuck shirts into pants - Negative
Tuck pants into socks - Hard to tuck in shorts
Thoroughly inspect your pack and Gear - Unlikely
Shower within two hours of being outdoors - Possibly
conducting a full-body tick inspection - Does gazing in the mirror count?

@The_Eagle
Not too tickled, are ya?

I never thought about ticks when I lived in Arizona with the exception of finding a few on the family dogs growing up in north Phoenix. However, they are a huge problem here in California. Ticks are likely to be a huge problem as California transitions from a ridiculously wet winter to spring. I've found a few of them on me while hiking near Big Sur and in Point Reyes. The general rule is that the ticks arrive when the poppies do. I've seen a few scattered poppies, but luckily no ticks so far in 2017. Unfortunately I won't be going to Big Sur any time soon after the Soberanes Fire scorched it and the heavy winter rains have closed Hwy. 1 for at least the next few months!

@Peter_Medal