Summer in Detroit is BACK with open season for backpacking, gravel biking, hiking...and picking up a tick or two along the way. Have no fear - Expedition Detroit is here with an intro on our regional pest and steps you can take to stay safe from Lyme disease this summer!
Summer is in full swing and Michiganders have taken to the outdoors to take advantage of guided hikes, lake-life, biking trails, and……TICKS!?!
That’s right, folks. The beauty of Michigan summers is unmatched, but in accordance with the nature's balance of Yin and Yang, every positive unfortunately comes with some negative. For Detroit's outdoors, that means rising temperatures rise and active forest animals are accompanied by open season for ticks - and the diseases that they can carry.
Now that more Detroiters than ever are flocking to our parks and trails, let's dive into a crash course on our resident micro arachnids and what steps we can take to enjoy a tick-free summer in our world-class outdoors.
Where the Wild Things Are: Crash Course on Michigan's Ticks
If you're keen on avoiding something (or someone), then step one is typically to learn where that something typically goes. Ticks often rest on leaves and grasses along well-travelled paths, where they hope an unsuspecting host will walk by and brush up against them. Once adhered, a tick may feed on host blood for minutes to days.
As an anesthesiologist I must tip my cap to these little vampires. Their saliva can contain anesthetic properties which prevents the host from noticing any irritation from bites. As the tick feeds, it can transmit pathogens into the host bloodstream.
Those pathogens are what we're most concerned about. During the transmission phase of a tick's feeding, ticks may transfer a litany of diseases like rocky mountain spotted fever, tularemia, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus disease, ehrlichiosis, and alpha-gal syndrome – a particularly terrifying disease where those affected become "allergic" to red meat.
The most common vector-borne disease in Michigan, however, is Lyme disease.
Backcountry Enemy No. 1: Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is spread by the infamous black-legged "deer" tick and caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease may cause symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, and a bulls-eye appearing rash called erythema migrans. Left untreated, those affected may develop severe neurologic and cardiac complications. Lyme disease is most commonly treated with antibiotics, but proper treatment requires a thorough examination, diagnosis, and plan from a doctor.
If all of that wasn’t scary enough, I have more bad news – cases in the Detroit region are on the rise. There were 862 cases of confirmed Lyme disease in Michigan in 2021, which was over a 400% increase from 2016. Washtenaw County – home to several of our favorite parks – is particularly concerning in regard to its growing burden of Lyme disease cases. Here are a few startling figures:
In 2023, Washtenaw County had 192 confirmed cases, compared to 17 confirmed cases in 2016.
Of the 2023 cases, it affected individuals as young as 3 years old, and 22 people required hospitalization.
There were disproportionately low Lyme disease case reports among ethnic minority demographics throughout Washtenaw County, although such findings cause concern for missed or under-reported diagnoses in residents of color.
Due to reporting bias and many individuals unable or unwilling to seek treatment, the real case numbers of Lyme disease in Michigan are likely much higher than reported.
Let's pause for a moment. The data concerning the growth of ticks, and severe tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, throughout the Detroit region is objectively alarming. That being said, there are numerous ways to help reduce the incidence of tick bites and their potential diseases. Since we have a vested interest in facilitating the growth and sustainability of our local outdoor community, we wanted to share our insights into how you can continue to explore deeper into our wildest places while mitigating exposure to ticks.
Here are a few recommended means of doing so:
Avoid Direct Contact
Since ticks cannot jump or fly, they most likely won’t sneak up on you. Instead, ticks heavily rely on their hosts making direct contact as they trek through tall grass, leaves, and other foliage.
As you explore Michigan’s wilderness, make an effort to avoid trekking directly through such flora. Safe practice involves staying near the center of paths and avoiding off-trail adventures. But let’s face it – sometimes adventure calls and we end up off-trail. In such scenarios, wear a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves, pants, high socks, and closed-toed shoes. These items will serve as a protective barrier should a tick find its way onto your body, and allow you a chance to identify and remove the tick before it contacts your skin.
Utilize DEET or Permethrin
Skin repellents containing at least 20% DEET will help repel ticks. Clothing treated with permethrin with also repel ticks, and often remains effective after numerous wash cycles. The EPA has an excellent insect repellent search tool to help you find a solution which works for you.
Find and Remove Ticks
If a tick finds a way on to your skin, do not panic. For starters, the tick may not carry any diseases. Additionally, it can take several hours to days before an infected tick is able to transmit pathogens to their host. So as long as you immediately and diligently check yourself after spending extensive time outdoors, then your chances of removing a tick before any harm is transmitted will greatly increase.
Best practice for this "search and destroy mission" involves bathing or showering shortly after outdoor activities. Before or after bathing, use a mirror to check yourself for ticks and ask a partner for assistance if able. Parents should check their children, especially within hidden spots such as the arm pits, ears, behind the knees, near the groin, around the waste, in hair, and in the belly-button.
If you find a tick, grasp it with tweezers and pull straight up without twisting or jerking. Wash the skin site with soap and water. Then dispose of the live tick by submerging in alcohol or sealing in a bag. Resist the urge to crush a tick in your fingers. It is also safe practice to double check your gear and pets. Tumbling gear or clothes in the dryer on high heat for an hour will typically kill any attached ticks.
Follow-Up with your Doctor
If you develop a rash, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, or other concerning symptoms in the days to weeks following a tick bite, then you should immediately follow-up with your doctor. Make sure your doctor is aware of the timing and setting of your tick exposure.
Here at Expedition Detroit, we love nothing more than seeing our community enjoy and respect our region's great outdoors in a safe manner. A key component of that mission is to boost your ability to hike, camp, bike, ski, hunt, and paddle for as long as you so desire.
This article - really, all of our lifestyle articles - has been curated for that exact purpose. While our growing tick population is absolutely a cause for concern, informed recreation is your best first step towards enjoying the best outdoor summer of your life.
So stay safe and healthy, Detroit - we’ll see you on the trail.
Additional resources specific to Lyme Disease and Ticks in Washtenaw County can be found at the Washtenaw County Health Department, which served as a reliable resource as we prepared this article.
This article serves to educate but should not be used as direct medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional(s) before attempting to diagnose or treat any medical concerns.
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