MONTPELIER, Vt. — As Vermonters head out deer hunting this fall, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds hunters to be ‘tick smart’ to prevent Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. When wading through high grass and brush or sitting still along the edges of fields and forests, hunters can easily pick up a tick.
According to officials from the Department of Health, November is one of the high-points in the year for reports of tick bites and annual cases of Lyme disease continue to rise in Vermont.
Hunters can help reduce their risk of tick bites by following these tips from the Vermont Department of Health:
•  Protect: Before you go outside, apply an EPA-registered insect repellent on your skin and treat your clothes with permethrin. When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and tuck your pants into your socks to keep ticks from your skin.
•  Check: Do daily tick checks on yourself, your children and pets.
•  Remove: Remove ticks right away. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has also been proven effective in washing ticks off the skin before they attach. Put clothing into the dryer on hot heat for 10 minutes to kill remaining ticks.
•  Watch: If you were bitten by a tick, watch for signs of disease during the weeks following the bite. Call your health care provider if you experience symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, fatigue, or joint pain.
For more tips on staying tick safe outdoors, click here.