So far we haven’t been bothered at all by an abundance of skeeters or our state bird, the black fly, so this might be a good time to issue our annual warning on Lyme disease.

According to the NYS Department of Health, bacteria transmitted by deer ticks causes Lyme disease. It can affect people of any age who spend time in grassy and/or wooded environments. Young deer ticks are generally most active from mid-May to mid-August, and adult ticks from March to mid-May and again from mid-August to November.

Turkey hunters and hikers are particularly susceptible because of the nature of their pursuit. Examine your clothing carefully after every hunting jaunt and brush off any ticks you find, before they can attach themselves to any skin they come in contact with. In most cases tick attachment takes a period of 36 hours or more so you have plenty of time to take preventive action before the tick begins its work.

If one or more do embed themselves, the first symptom you’ll likely see is a rash resembling a bulls-eye or a solid patch about two inches in diameter around or near the site of the bite. Early symptoms normally occur within three to 30 days after the bite of an infected tick.

The early stage of Lyme disease includes symptoms such as chills and fever, headache, fatigue, stiff neck muscles and/or joint pain and swollen glands. If not detected and treated in these early stages these symptoms can worsen and more severe symptoms can manifest. Lyme disease treatments have become more effective, but if undetected or allowed to progress the disease can cause severe and long-lasting effects.

If you discover a tick has imbedded itself, your best bet is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Early treatment with antibiotics almost always results in a full cure; the chances for a full recovery decrease as symptoms increase and treatment is delayed. As an added protection, you might also consider getting an anti-Lyme disease inoculation. I understand they do work.

Insect repellents can be effective deterrents against tick bites, and those containing DEET or Permethrin are particularly effective. The DEET acts as a repellent while Permethrin actually kills the ticks and other insects that come in contact with it. However, some people may be sensitive to one or both of these products so care should be taken before using them.

If you do use a chemical repellent apply it sparingly but thoroughly around your boot tops, trouser and shirt cuffs and perhaps around your collar as well.

Other simple tactics that can help minimize the possibility of tick bites involve tucking your trouser cuffs into your socks and being certain your shirt is tucked into your trousers.

While hunters and hikers are particularly susceptible to tick attacks, even the benign chore of taking your pet for a walk can put both you and your pet at risk. Examine your pets periodically to ensure no tick has attached itself to them, especially if they like to wander in thicker grass. Not all deer ticks are infected with the disease but why take a chance?

Based upon a recent study conducted by Mississippi State University and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, researchers in Michigan say coyotes are the number one predator of deer in parts of that state’s Upper Peninsula. Bobcats came in number two. Third place resulted in a three-way tie among hunters, unknown predators and undetermined causes and fourth place went to wolves.

The researchers obtained data from 142 GPS-collared fawns, of which 80 died during the first phase of the three-year study. Efforts focused on a region known for “low snow” depths in the Upper Peninsula; the next two phases of the deer mortality study will look at areas with traditionally deeper snows. Those next few phases should prove even more interesting, and the results could have increased relevance to the Adirondack region.