LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - "It's really bad this year," Ken Horton explained as he completed his hike at Pinnacle Mountain.
According to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, there is an abundance of ticks invading Arkansas this spring, putting many people who spend time outdoors on high alert. One hiker said, "I wasn't even aware that there were that many ticks here until I felt them all over."
Marshal Fuler said he is no stranger to finding ticks on his body. He climbs Pinnacle Mountain several times a week and says he routinely sprays his body to prevent taking ticks home with him. Fuler explained, "The deer ticks are a little bit bigger. You can feel those crawling but the sea ticks are very small." So small in fact that Jessica Andalon said she didn't even see the ones that latched onto her. Andalon said, "There was just something tiny, tiny. Then I pulled it and I tried to kill it and I couldn't. so then I knew it was a tick."
Curry's Pest Control said in the last three weeks, calls to spray for ticks have increased tremendously. Richard Sims said, "Noticing more of them in the suburb area of central Arkansas. But even downtown Little Rock there's still calls coming in daily." Sims said in addition to preventative treatment, there are a couple things homeowners can do to keep ticks at bay. He explained, "Keeping the grass cut sort really makes it an unfavorable environment for them, fencing your yard, keeping unwanted wildlife out like deer, raccoons."
Experts say ticks found on the body should be promptly removed by using tweezers, pulling upward with a steady pressure and the area should be thoroughly cleaned with alcohol, an iodine scrub or soap and water.
