By Mary Felts, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy Member
When most people envision a summer in West Virginia’s forests, they think of scenic overlooks, cool mountain streams and peaceful hikes. I was fortunate enough to enjoy all of that this summer, but I also started paying closer attention to the ground beneath my feet.
As an undergraduate studying environmental studies at West Virginia Wesleyan College, I had the opportunity to work with the WVWC Tick Team. This meant visiting places like Stonecoal Wildlife Management Area and Audra State Park, where we used a method called flagging to collect ticks. Flagging involves slowly dragging a square of white fabric over vegetation or leaf litter, where ticks often wait for a passing host. Every time I swept a flag through the vegetation, I was reminded that even our prettiest landscapes have hidden wildlife. One of my biggest surprises was how small ticks can be. The larval and nymph stages are so tiny that they are easy to overlook, which explains why many people do not realize they have been bitten until much later.
That experience changed how I view outdoor activities. It did not make me want to stay inside. Instead, I realized that being prepared is part of being a responsible outdoor enthusiast. Ticks are a natural part of West Virginia’s ecosystems, and with a few simple habits, we can greatly lower our risk of tick-borne illness while still enjoying the places we love.
If you plan to hike, fish, camp, hunt or volunteer on trails this summer, take a few extra minutes to prepare. Wear insect repellent approved by the EPA, stick to the center of trails when you can and avoid brushing against tall grass and thick vegetation. Light-colored clothing can help you spot ticks more easily, and wearing long pants and sleeves offers another layer of protection.
The most important step comes after your adventure. As soon as you get home, do a thorough tick check. Pay close attention to your hairline, the area behind your ears, under your arms, around your waist and behind your knees. Showering within a couple of hours after being outdoors can also help wash away any unattached ticks. If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove it as soon as possible with fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp it close to the skin and pull straight upward with steady pressure.
Working outdoors this summer has given me a deeper appreciation for West Virginia’s public lands and the amazing variety of life they support. Our forests and parks are meant to be explored, and I hope people keep going outside to enjoy them. The goal is not to fear ticks but to be aware of them. With a little preparation and some good habits, you can spend more time making memories in the mountains and less time worrying about what might be hiding in the grass.