Chuck and I were ravaged by bugs today! We hiked the towpath and adjacent bridal trail from the Frazee House trailhead. It’s a great trail with lots of wildlife, but it’s hardly remote or challenging. Still, at the end of our four miles, we were crawling with ticks and bitten by flies.
I got all the ticks off before they could latch on, and the fly bites are more annoying than painful, but we’ll be better prepared tomorrow! It’s always a good idea to wear leggings or long pants to avoid poison ivy and pests on the trail. When ticks are out in force, like they are right now, it’s wise to wear long sleeves and light colors so you can easily spot them and shake them off. A hat and bug spray are also a huge help!
Chuck’s thick fur helps protect her, but I am careful to make sure she is always up to date on flea and tick and heart worm prevention.
I did some reading, and it looks like there have been increasing numbers of ticks in Ohio over the last few years. They tend to be prevalent late spring through mid-summer. I’ve never been particularly worried about them, but they can carry Lyme disease, so it’s always a good idea to protect yourself and see a doctor right away if you feel unwell after being bitten by one.
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