CHEYENNE - A little over 50 percent of Wyoming spring turkey hunters get their limit of one bird but an informal survey reveals nearly 100 percent of spring turkey hunters get their limit of ticks.

A light winter and generally warm spring has the little gremlins out in force earlier. Only a minute percentage of ticks transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease, and the chance of contracting the afflictions are remote. But the diseases are occasionally reported in Wyoming, and the risk is real enough to observe these practices:

Remove embedded ticks by grasping the bug as close to the skin as possible and gently pulling. (If a little of your skin is removed, don’t be alarmed. That’s an assurance the entire tick is removed.)

The symptoms of tick-transmitted diseases vary among victims, but generally include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, fatigue and joint stiffness. Lyme disease often induces a red rash around the bite.

Untreated, the diseases can produce nerve and muscle disorders and may lead to other health problems. Early detection is critical in the treatment of tick-transmitted diseases. See a doctor promptly if symptoms develop after a trip outdoors.

Here is a homemade tick repellent suggested by the U.S. Forest Service:
• 2 cups white vinegar
• 1 cup Avon Skin So Soft bath oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil
Put mixture in old spray bottle. Use spray before going into areas where a tick is apt to be present.

According to the Wyoming Department of Health, one case of Lyme disease (Fremont County) and four cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (one each Crook, Fremont, Sweetwater and Weston counties) were confirmed in the Equality State in 2006.
(contact: Jeff Obrecht)