Forget bears, it’s those eight-legged, flat-bodied, triangle-shaped, not quite insects nor spiders that have me quaking in my hiking boots. My daughter came back from a hike and was standing in the kitchen when she “felt” something on her shoulder. It took me a bit to find the sucker after she flung it half way across the room! Yup, it’s tick season alright.

Ticks are arachnids – meaning they are in the same class as eight-legged spiders as opposed to the six-legged insects. They are external parasites that find a host (sheep, moose, deer, you...) and bury their heads into the skin to suck blood. If you’re starting to wriggle, it’s understandable – these little bloodsuckers are gross. The body of a female tick can swell up to the size of a kernel of corn or more as it feeds, head buried in your flesh. That’s not the bad part though – ticks can also carry diseases such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, among others.

In the Rockies, ticks love the warm, dry, south-facing slopes (oddly enough, also a favourite of bighorn sheep!). These little parasites spend the winter snug in the ground and then start climbing to find a buddy to hang onto. Contrary to rumour, ticks don’t drop out of trees. They climb a foot or two on grasses and low bushes and then hang out with legs outstretch hoping for a lift.

Once onboard, they don’t dig in right away, but wander slowly around searching for just the right spot – kind of like Goldilocks, only not nearly as cute. Ticks like hairy places and once they find the favoured location, they generously make sure you don’t feel a thing as they inject an anaesthetic before starting to feed. Once full, they pull out and head off to who cares where.

What to do with tick on your shoe?
• Lessen your chances of picking up one of these hitchhikers by walking in the middle of the trail and try to avoid bushwalking whenever possible in early spring.
• Keep your arms and legs covered. I know pants tucked into socks looks rather geeky, but it works!
• Consider using an insect repellent with DEET. Although it’s a mighty harsh compound, it seems to do the trick.
• Check yourself and your hiking partners (including pets) for ticks after hikes.
• If you find an imbedded tick, it gets a little tricky. Ticks “glue” themselves onto your body, so pulling them out is difficult. Use a pair of tweezers, grab the pest as close to your skin as possible and pull straight out. Make sure all of the head is removed. If symptoms (severe headaches, fever, chills, muscle pain, rash, etc.) appear, immediately see your doctor.