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Warmer weather means more time gardening, walking pets, attending outdoor events and enjoying the rural beauty surrounding Hope. It also means greater exposure to fleas and ticks.

Ticks are commonly found in tall grass, wooded areas, leaf litter, fence rows and the edges of fields. Fleas may enter homes on pets or wildlife and then spread through carpeting, furniture and pet bedding. Hope-area residents should be especially careful after working outdoors, visiting farms, hiking, hunting or spending time near brush and wooded areas.

Indiana is home to several tick species, including the American dog tick, lone star tick and blacklegged tick. Some ticks can transmit illnesses such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Lone star tick bites have also been associated with alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat and other products from mammals.

“Living in a rural community gives us many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, but it also increases the likelihood of coming into contact with ticks,” said Chief Medical Officer and board-certified family medicine physician, Brock McMillen, at WindRose Health Network. “After spending time in tall grass, wooded areas, gardens or around animals, residents should check themselves, their children and their pets carefully.

Finding and removing a tick early—and contacting a healthcare provider if concerning symptoms develop—can make an important difference.”

Check After Spending Time Outdoors
Ticks can be very small and may look like a freckle, speck of dirt or tiny seed. After coming indoors, check:

*Around and behind the ears
*Along the hairline and scalp
*Under the arms
*Around the waist
*Behind the knees
*Between the legs
*Around the ankles and sock lines

Shower soon after outdoor activity and inspect clothing, shoes, bags and outdoor gear.

Check pets around their ears, eyelids, collars, legs, toes and tails.

If You Find a Tick
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist, crush or burn the tick, and do not cover it with petroleum jelly, nail polish or essential oils.

Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Record the date and, when possible, take a clear photograph of the tick.

Contact a healthcare provider if fever, headache, unusual fatigue, muscle or joint pain, facial weakness or a spreading rash develops in the following days or weeks. Not every tick-borne illness causes the familiar bull’s-eye rash.

If Fleas Enter Your Home
Pets that scratch frequently, chew their skin or lose patches of hair may have fleas. Contact a veterinarian for treatment and use only products approved for the specific animal. Some dog flea treatments can be dangerous to cats.

Wash pet bedding, vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture, and continue treatment for the full recommended period. Flea eggs can remain in the home and hatch after adult fleas are treated.

Reduce the Risk Around Your Property
Keep grass trimmed, remove brush and leaf litter, stack firewood in a dry area and keep outdoor seating or play equipment away from wooded edges. Secure trash and animal feed to discourage rodents and wildlife.

When entering grassy or wooded areas, wear long pants, closed-toe shoes and light- colored clothing. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent according to the label.

A quick check after mowing, gardening, walking the dog or spending time outdoors can help protect you, your family and your pets throughout flea and tick season.