Wildlife Officials Issue Annual Tick Warning For East Bay Regional Parks

CASTRO VALLEY, CA — Wildlife officials are advising the public to be wary of ticks as they venture into East Bay Regional Parks over the next several months.

Tick season runs from spring into the fall. A tick bite can cause Lyme disease, which can be treated if caught early on. But most people won't notice if they have a tick bite and are symptomless early on.

Without knowing, people can't get treatment, and therefore find out they have the disease only after it reaches a more serious stage.

Adult ticks are just under the size of a sesame seed, while males are about 2 millimeters. Smaller versions include the nymph and larva, which measure at about 1 millimeter and less, about the size of a poppy seed.

"Most ticks can’t fly or jump," East Bay Regional Park District officials said. "They wait on the tips of grasses and in shrubs along well-used paths. With their front legs outstretched, they easily climb aboard unsuspecting hosts when they brush by."

If bitten by a tick, officials recommend using tweezers to pry it away, grabbing it as close to the skin's surface as possible, ideally by the head, and pulling upward with even pressure.

Avoid twisting, jerking or trying to burn the tick. Remove any leftover mouth parts left behind with some type of card, wash hands and the tick bite and watch for symptoms, officials said.

Symptoms can include a rash, fever and fatigue. To avoid being bitten by a tick while out hiking, officials recommend wearing long pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes, using insect repellent, and staying on trails, officials said.

Officials also said it is important to check your body and pets thoroughly and run clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes after being outdoors to target ticks that may be hiding in clothing.

"Whether you’re hiking in East Bay Regional Parks, venturing into nearby open spaces, or simply relaxing in your own yard, it’s important to be wary of ticks, which are often present in tall grass, brush, and wooded areas," officials said. "Visitors are encouraged to keep tick safety precautions in mind when visiting East Bay Regional Parks throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons."