Lyme Disease has been around long enough that most, if not all of you understand the precautions you should take while working in the outdoors or hunting. You likely also know the symptoms of Lyme disease. Spring Turkey hunting is just around the corner and the change in weather will be bringing out us hunters and the deer ticks. Adult ticks, which are approximately the size of sesame seeds, are most active from March to mid- May and from mid-August to November. Both nymphs and adults can transmit Lyme disease. Ticks can be active any time the temperature is above freezing. Infected deer ticks can be found throughout New York State. Deer ticks can carry a number of pathogens. There is one in particular that seems to be spreading in Pennsylvania it is called the Powassan virus. At this point there has not been any notification that it is prevalent in NYS, but it is currently present in central Pennsylvania (P.A.).

One small P.A. survey found 23 out of 25 ticks carried it. Why should we care? This virus is much worse than Lyme disease, it takes effect in your system within 15 minutes of a tick bite, it is 10% Fatal, 50% have long term medical issues. Initial symptoms include headache, fever and vomiting, with the most severe cases involving neurological complications such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis. Roughly 1 in 10 neuroinvasive cases of Powassan virus are fatal, and about half of the survivors of these cases experience long-term neurological health impacts including a loss of balance, headaches and swelling of the brain.

So for you spring turkey hunters, no matter what state you plan on hunting do as much as you can to keep tick free. Often we turkey hunters end up sitting on the ground which may add to our tick exposure:

·To avoid ticks, tuck your shirt into your pants and tuck your pant legs into your socks while walking through the woods and brush or sitting on the ground. I suggest you use elastic leg gaiters over boots and open pant legs.

·Apply tick repellents containing permethrin to clothing (do not apply permethrin to your skin), and EPA-registered insect repellents such as DEET to exposed skin before entering the outdoors.

·After your hunt, you should do a tick check and take a shower. Putting your clothes in a hot dryer will kill them.

Tick population is on a rapid increase so be prepared. When working outside in the woods and brush do the same as above. Also, they say light colored clothing helps. Obviously this is not practical for turkey hunting but is for working or hiking. Enjoy a safe and tick free spring wild turkey season!