With spring arriving across the United States and in Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park is warning visitors of the presence of ticks at lower elevation areas throughout the park.
Rocky Mountain is primarily home to the Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks (Dermacentor andersoni). Most species nationwide inhabit areas of tall vegetation and leaf litter, easily jumping from vegetation like tall grasses to a new host like hiking humans.
Ticks can transmit diseases to humans like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Colorado Tick Fever. The best way to stop tick borne illnesses is by preventing the insects from becoming embedded on you in the first place.
To do so, Rocky Mountain National Park suggests walking on trails away from tall grasses and checking yourself and your kids for ticks every few hours. Check your head, ankles, wrists, and waistbands. Wearing long sleeves and long pants with socks pulled over the cuffs of your pants can prevent them from finding your skin.
Additionally, insect repellent that contains DEET or permethrin can be effecting in repelling the insects. More information on the insects is available at the CDC website and RMNP’s webpage.
