Found One After a Day Hike with My Kids
We finished a four-mile loop at a state park near Stillwater and I did a quick tick check on the kids before loading up the car. Found a tiny one on my daughter’s hairline — I almost missed it. I used the fine-tip tweezers from our Trail Ready kit and got it out cleanly. Sent it in for testing and everything came back negative. The kit was worth every penny just for that moment of confidence knowing exactly what to do.
Three Ticks in One Afternoon — What I Learned
Turkey season in east Tennessee. I came home and found three Lone Star ticks on me — one behind my knee, one on my ankle, and one crawling on my shirt. None were attached for long. I learned that Lone Stars are aggressive and move fast. Tucking your pants into your socks and spraying your boots with permethrin makes a real difference. I have done it every hunt since and have not had another one get on me.
Dog Brought One Inside — Then We Found It on Us
Our golden retriever came in from the backyard and we did not check her right away. Two hours later my husband found an American Dog Tick crawling across the couch. We checked the dog and found two more on her. Then we checked ourselves and found one on my son’s leg that had just started to attach. Removed it quickly and monitored for symptoms. All clear. Now we check the dog every single time she comes inside during tick season.
Backpacking Trip — Found One Three Days In
I was three days into a solo trip in the Coast Range when I found a Western Blacklegged tick attached behind my ear. It had probably been there 24 to 36 hours based on how engorged it was. I removed it with my tweezers, bagged it, and hiked out the next morning. Got tested when I got home. Negative for Lyme. The experience made me realize how easy it is to miss one in a hard-to-see spot. I now use a mirror and do a full check every evening at camp.
Scout Campout — Found Three on the Kids
I lead a Scout troop and we camped in the Hudson Valley for a weekend. When we got home I had parents do tick checks on their kids. Three of the twelve scouts had ticks — all unattached, all found during the check. None of the parents had done a check at camp. I now build a mandatory tick check into our end-of-day routine on every outing. It takes five minutes and the kids have learned to do it themselves. This is a life skill they will use forever.
Elk Scouting Trip — Found One Behind My Ear
I was scouting for elk in the San Juans above Durango when I found a Rocky Mountain Wood Tick attached behind my right ear. It was partially engorged — probably 18 to 24 hours. I removed it carefully and sent it to a lab. Came back negative for everything. The thing that surprised me was how high in elevation I was — above 9,000 feet. I had always assumed ticks were a lower-elevation problem. They are not. Check yourself regardless of where you are hiking in Colorado.
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