Rocky Mountain wood tick activity begins in March and typically peaks in April, according to the San Juan Basin Health Department.
Rocky Mountain wood tick activity begins in March and typically peaks in April, according to the San Juan Basin Health Department.National Institutes of Health/Associated Press file

Those blood-sucking parasites are out there on their annual quest, and yes, they’re looking for you. And maybe your pet.

It’s tick season, and the San Juan Basin Health Department issued a news release this week to make people aware of what to do when they venture outdoors.

This year’s tick season isn’t seen as being worse or better than normal, but people should always take precautions, Claire Macpherson, communications spokeswoman for the department, said Wednesday.

“We’re just trying to get people to be aware … and know what the hazards are,” she said.

Ticks are generally found in sagebrush, juniper and pine habitats from 4,000 to 10,000 feet elevation. They carry diseases such as Colorado tick fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, although the latter is rare in Southwest Colorado, according to the news release.

Humans bitten by ticks carrying either virus can become ill, although symptoms may not appear for a day or even a week or two. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and lethargy. A rash is common.

Colorado tick fever often doesn’t require treatment, but Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a more serious disease, San Juan Basin Health said in the news release. It is caused by bacteria and should be treated with antibiotics as soon as possible.

Adult Rocky Mountain wood ticks start to become active in March, and their activity peaks in April, the Health Department said. Ticks can be found into June.

Ticks are often found behind the knees, at the waistband and groin areas, around the armpits and the nape of the neck.

[email protected]

Tick tips

Tips to protect against ticks, provided by the San Juan Basin Health Department:
Avoid wooded and brush areas with high grass and leaf litter.
Walk in the center of trails.
Use insect repellents that contain 20-30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing for protection that lasts up to several hours.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks.
Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Parents should check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the navel, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and especially in their hair.
Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats and packs.
Treat your household pets with veterinarian-recommended flea and tick treatments.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html or www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05593.pdf.