Got a bite? Expert tips for preventing, treating tick bites

Now is the season for hiking, camping, cookouts and outdoor playtime -- and the pesky critters that come with spending time outdoors. Tick season occurs from May to November in much of the United States.

But if you think ticks are a concern only in the deep woods, it's time to think again. Partially due to migrating deer populations, ticks are now abundant in suburban and city backyards.

"Some ticks can transmit diseases, so it's always a good idea to try to remove the tick as soon as possible to prevent disease transmission," says Angela Pierce, a naturalist at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center. In Missouri, ticks can transmit Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and possibly the Heartland virus, she notes.

Read these tips on avoiding ticks and caring for yourself if one has taken up residence on your body:

__Tuck pant cuffs:__ For hikes or romps in the woods, tuck pant legs into your socks to prevent ticks from reaching your skin. Remember that ticks do not fly or jump from trees; they are on the ground and crawl upward.

Cutline :Camping man spraying bug repellant

__Use repellent:__ Pierce advises using a tick repellent with DEET. You can also treat your clothes with a clothing-only spray containing permethrin, which will kill ticks on contact. And while there are plenty of repellents with natural or botanical ingredients, Pierce says they don't seem to work well on ticks.

__Avoid tick hideouts:__ "If you're hiking in the woods, it's always better to stay on the trail. Ticks like to hang out in taller vegetation," Pierce says. In the spring, try to avoid leafy areas where ticks may have laid their eggs.

__Check daily:__ Because it's best to remove ticks before they attach, it's important to check for them daily. Keep in mind that ticks like constricted places, so be sure to check all over and focus on locations such as the underarms, under the knees and around waistbands. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends showering as soon as possible when you come indoors, and tumbling clothes in a dryer on high heat for an hour to kill remaining ticks. Don't forget any coats, bags or other gear you took outside with you -- ticks can hide in them and attach to a person or pet later.

__Be proactive for pets:__ Protect your furry family members by asking your vet about proper vaccination and treatment for pets. For example, there are immunizations and topical treatments for dogs.

__Take action quickly:__ If you find a live tick, the CDC says to dispose of it by submerging it in alcohol, wrapping it in tape or flushing it down the toilet.

For the majority of tick-borne diseases, you have 24 hours to find and remove an attached tick before it transmits an infection, according to the University of Rhode Island TickEncounter Resource Center.

"If you get a tick attached, use a pair of tweezers and grab it as close to the skin as possible," Pierce instructs. "Grab the tick by the mouth part and pull directly up. You don't want to leave the body behind, so don't remove it with your fingers. And you don't want to get any of its fluids inside you, so don't harass [the tick]. A quick pull with the tweezers close to the skin is best."

After removing the tick from a person or pet, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub or soap and water and treat it with an antibiotic ointment.

If you develop a fever, rash or flu-like symptoms within weeks of removing the tick, visit a doctor. Pierce adds that cases of Lyme disease often create a large bullseye pattern around the bite area.

For more information about ticks and prevention, visit www.cdc.gov/ticks or call the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center at 573-290-5218.

BrandPoint contributed to this report.