Due to an increasing number of ticks on local trails over the past five years, Bobby Curley, president of the North Quabbin Trails Association, said hikers have been in crisis mode.
“You can’t crush (the ticks), no matter what you do, they’ll still move on you,” he said.
Last year, Curley said his dog, Celtz, was plagued by more than 200 ticks, all in patches, from one day of hiking. But this year has been different, he said, thanks to NQTA’s tick eradication program.
By removing duff — piles consisting of twigs, leaves and needles on ground level — Curley said hikers have seen fewer ticks while on the trails. The process includes cleaning and clearing the trails by widening them two feet from their natural state on either side, flush cutting and removing leaves. Ticks live in moist and dark places, said Curley, and so duff left on trails are perfect places for them to reside.
“We clean the paths so the ticks do not want to live in them,” he said. “By clearing that duff … we went from having a heavy amount of ticks on every hiker, to the last hikes we’ve had no reported tick incidents.”
The most common species of ticks in Massachusetts are the deer tick and dog tick, according to the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Ticks can carry diseases, such as Lyme disease, which can occur when bitten by a deer tick. If left untreated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease can possibly spread to joints, the heart and nervous system. Other symptoms include fever, headache and fatigue. The number of illnesses from mosquito, tick and flea bites have tripled in the United States from 2004 to 2016, according to a report by the CDC.
Curley said even though the trails have been cleared, there is always a possibility of a roaming tick or two. To prepare for a hike or trip into the wilderness, he suggests purchasing a tick repellent.
“You can go ‘anywhere USA’ right now, this is the time of year that the (ticks) are out. If you’re going to be out on the trails now, you need to take action,” said Curley.
Tick repellents are available for hikers and dogs. As for Celtz, Curley said he sprays him with Flea Halt! Flea and Tick Spray before heading outdoors. The spray includes permethrin, a common insecticide the CDC recommends for treating clothes for tick prevention. The center also recommends showering within two hours of coming indoors to reduce the risk of Lyme disease and to complete a full-body check after a hike.
For those affected by Lyme disease and their families, Rose Bartok of Athol is running a support group at the Athol Public Library. The first meeting is scheduled for June 5 at 6 p.m. People will be able to exchange ideas about their own experiences with Lyme disease.
“I know for myself, because I’ve had Lyme, you talk to your spouse or family but you feel like sometimes it would be nice to talk to someone who has been through the same thing,” said Bartok.
Bartok said the North Quabbin region was missing a support group for the disease, while services are available near the Northampton and Worcester area.
If you are bitten by a tick, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Laboratory of Medical Zoology can test the tick to determine if it was carrying pathogens that cause Lyme disease or other tick-borne pathogens. You can place the tick in a plastic bag and mail it straight to the lab for testing. For more information about the tick testing, contact info@tickreport.com or call 413-545-1057.
Sarah Garey, NQTA’s new social causes and social media director, said for the upcoming season she plans to provide information on the association’s website to inform the community about ticks, Lyme disease prevention and other related subjects.
Visit nqta.org for more information.