Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Northern California. Exploring Mountains, Valleys, and Seashore онлайн

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Ticks

These parasites love brushy areas at low elevations and are common throughout the state, especially during the rainy season. Always perform regular body checks when hiking through tick country. If you find a tick attached to you, don’t try to pull it out with your fingers or pinch the body; removing it this way is difficult and can increase the risk of infection. Using an appropriate tool instead, gently pull the tick out by lifting upward from the base of the body where it is attached to the skin. Pull straight out until the tick releases, and do not twist or jerk as this may break off the mouth parts under your skin. A stiff pair of tweezers works well for this operation.

Lyme Disease

While this disease is present in Northern California, only one of the 48 tick species found in the state is capable of transmitting it: the diminutive western black-legged tick. Chances for exposure are low, though the risk is steadily growing. Again, always perform regular body checks when hiking through tick country.