That fresh green grass may look like the perfect place to picnic or stretch out for a little sun. But it could also harbor a nasty pest prevalent this time of year.

“Ticks can be out all year, but they do increase in numbers as the weather warms up,” warns Eugene McRoy, environmental health program specialist with the Beaufort County Environmental Health Department. “Wooded areas, where any kind of vegetation grows, that is where they prefer to be.”

Not only can ticks be pesky, they may also carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis, a tick-borne bacterial infection. Prevention is the key to avoiding illnesses, according to McRoy.

“It’s important to cover up exposed skin,” he said. “Tuck your pants into your socks, keep your shirt in your pants … this provides barriers to your skin. There are mosquito and tick repellents on the market, but be sure to read the label first. Some shouldn’t come into contact with your skin.”

Another tip is to avoid wearing dark clothing, but not because that will repel ticks. Lighter colored clothing just makes it easier to spot a tick if one does find its way onto your body. McRoy also advised keeping lawns mowed regularly and vegetation clipped, thus reducing tick population in its natural habitat.

“Remove leaf litter and keep areas clean and free of debris,” he added.

While female mosquitoes are the only ones that bite, it’s a level playing field when it comes to ticks, McRoy said. Both male and female ticks will bite and attach themselves to human and animal hosts.

If someone suspects they have been in an area where ticks are abundant, it is a good idea to carefully check hard-to-see areas on the body, McRoy said.

But even folks who exercise caution may find themselves the unwilling host to one or more ticks. Should a tick attach itself to one’s skin, it is advised to remove it carefully with a pair of tweezers.

“Do not touch the tick if at all possible,” McRoy said. “The earlier you remove it, the better. If you don’t have tweezers, use gloves or a tissue. Pull straight up and make sure the entire tick pulls out. You can use a sterilized needle to remove the mouth parts if they remain in your skin.”

Once the ticket is removed, wash the area thoroughly with soap and warm water; follow up with an antiseptic such as alcohol.

“It’s also a good idea to make a note of the date you removed the tick in case symptoms of illness appear later,” McRoy said.  “If that happens, see a physician immediately.”

For more information, McRoy recommends visiting the following web sites:

www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/ticks.html

epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/diseases/ticks.html

www.tic-nc.org.