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Tick awareness: This morning after my walk with the dogs I spotted the first tick of 2023 crawling on one of them. Even when they are on their monthly tick treatment I still check them after our walks, since a tick could rub off onto me before it bites them. If you may not have seen one before this photo from last year shows how small they can be. The two specs next to the adult dog tick are in their younger stages. I had to increase the contrast in the photo just to make them more visible.

An article in our local paper recommended putting ticks in a ziplock bag, which can kill them quickly if the bag is put in the freezer for a few hours or ideally overnight. It is a good habit to do a thorough check after walking trails. If you or your pet have a tick bite I have found that tick remover tools (like this one) are so much easier to use compared to tweezers. Plus the tools help remove the head, and I feel more comfortable using plastic than metal when removing ticks from my pets.

To learn more about tick bite prevention visit the CDC article linked here. Enjoy some fun and safe adventures out there in this mild winter season!