Diane and I sold our homestead this spring and moved to our camp on a lake. We are remodeling and hoping to make our “lake home” a permanent thing. It’s a downsizing move, and a chance to be closer to what we love — the Maine woods.

There is a period of adjustment. No central heat, no rubbish pickup, not enough closet space for clothes, and longer travel time to the grocery store.

Oh yes, and ticks.

Diane incurred her first ever tick infection. She discovered it late, but in time for proper medical attention. As a result of her “tick encounter,” we both learned more than we had known about these sneaky little buggers.

For example, from all reports, including veterinarians, eastern and northern Maine is experiencing unprecedented problems with ticks. In fact, Lyme disease has now become one of the fastest growing epidemics to date. The alarming increase may be partly attributable to what the center for Disease Control refers to as an “under-reporting” of cases.

Instead of the 30,000 cases a year previously reported, the CDC has now issued a statement that the numbers are more in the range of 300,000 cases a year. 96% of these cases were reported from 13 states.

Here is an excerpt on this subject from a recent press release:

“According to the CDC, Lyme disease is now the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States, and that the new estimate suggests that the total number of people diagnosed with Lyme disease is roughly 10 times higher than the yearly reported number.”

Dr. Tom Mather, the TickGuy at the University of Rhode Island TickEncounter Resource Center is hearing from people across most of the USA that all types of ticks seem to be more abundant than in the past.

Here are some helpful tick bite-prevention strategies to keep you, your family and pet protected:

Tips Courtesy of www.tickencounter.org

1.) Your yard: Blacklegged ticks that carry Lyme disease are not out in the middle of your lawn, they live where yards border wooded areas, or anywhere it is shaded and there are leaves with high humidity. Place a layer of wood chips between your grass yard and the woods edge. The “barrier” serves to remind you when you step from tick-safer to tick-dangerous habitat.

2.) Tick checks: Do at least one full-body tick check daily (on yourself, children and pets) with clothes off … and carefully remove and identify any ticks found. (Wear light colored clothing so ticks are easier to find.)

3.) Outdoor pursuits: When on a hike, bike, or walk try to remain in the center of a trail in order to minimize your exposure. Remember — ticks cannot fly, they crawl up. Avoid sitting directly on the ground, woodpiles or fallen logs — areas where ticks love to live.

4.) Personal protection: Wear tick repellent clothing or spray your clothing with a bug repellent that contains deet. It doesn’t hurt to tuck your trousers inside your socks and wear tight fitting clothing such as turtlenecks or collars that button. Insect Shield repellent apparel is EPA registered to repel ticks (as well as a variety of other pesky and potentially dangerous insects.) The repellency is odorless, invisible and long-lasting. Insect Shield apparel is available for adults, kids and even your dog. http://www.insectshield.com

By the way, think that tick season is over? Think again. There are at least five ticks that are active during the autumn months. Whether you are a hunter, a fall angler or a fall hiker and camper, it is a good idea to take a few simple precautions as mentioned above.

A those who have been infected will tell you, Lyme disease is nothing to fool around with.

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide, co-host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network (WVOM-FM 103.9, WQVM-FM 101.3) and former information officer for the Maine Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. His e-mail address is paul@sportingjournal.com . He has two books “A Maine Deer Hunter’s Logbook” and his latest, “Backtrack.”

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