If you plan on hiking, camping, or hunting this fall, make sure that you:

• Protect yourself from mosquitoes and other bugs by using insect repellent.

• Wear long sleeves, long pants, and long socks.

• Always check your clothes and body for ticks. If you find any ticks, carefully remove them with tweezers. Though the ticks that transmit Lyme disease are most active in May, June, and July, you need to look for ticks in all months of the year to protect yourself against other tickborne diseases.

Also, keep in mind:

• Just because a stream looks clear, it doesn’t mean it’s safe to drink. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are two parasites that you can’t see, but they can make you very sick. Always treat or filter water to make it safe to drink.

• Bats are fun to watch as they flutter around at dusk. In many camp situations, the mere presence or sighting of bats is common and normal. Sometimes, bats are infected with rabies and may pose a risk for exposure to humans. Remind children to never touch a bat. If you are bitten by a bat, wash the affected area thoroughly and get medical advice immediately. Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a laboratory for rabies testing.

Submitted by Rob Anderson.

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