Summer means one thing... okay many things, but for most of us, it means spending countless hours outside. I personally didn't experience this past Minnesota winter, but I have been told it was a wet cold one. This means our creepy crawly friends that call themselves ticks had the ideal environment to survive and multiply.

According to Fox 47, over the past 15-years, there have been around 10,000 cases of Lymes Disease reported and confirmed in our amazing state. So what is Lymes Disease? It's the disease you can get from not removing a tick after one to two days of it being attached to your body, says Fox 47. This article also said around one-fifth of the Minnesota tick population carries the disease.

Ticks find their homes at the bottom of the woods in humid environments. This article said because we got a lot of snow this past year, they were able to multiply and survive the winter, so they are going to be more prevalent this summer. So, when is tick season? It's usually Mid-May through Mid-July, so we still have a few weeks that they will be on the peak.

If you plan to go hiking in some of the great locations we have here in Minnesota, there are a few things you can do to prevent yourself from getting Lymes Disease. The experts recommend that when you are hiking, you stay on the trail. I know if you are adventurous like me, that's hard to do. Wearing light-colored clothing also helps. They are less attracted to dull colors. Lastly, always shower, change clothes and check yourself for ticks after being in the woods. The experts in the article say that ticks can range in sizes, with the smallest being the size of a small seed.

If you do find a tick on your body, the best thing to do is remove it. Mayo Clinic put together this great video with some tips on how to do so.

If you do start to have a headache, rash, fever or start having muscle and joint pain, it's recommended that you go see your primary care doctor as soon as possible. Happy trails this summer.

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