by Ron Seman,
Sage of the Dunes
In 2026 the level of ticks has never been greater in my 55+ years of hiking at the Indiana Dunes and surrounding forest preserves. DO NOT STOP WALKING IN NATURE! Come on a free hike in the Indiana Dunes and I will take you step by step through all the details which can’t be contained in this piece.
Ask the park employees if there is a trail that has been specifically very bad with ticks. Choose a trail that is WIDER. WHIDER is WISER! Don’t go on a 2 foot wide trail with grasses and plants hanging over. They are tunnels of ticks. They hold their “paws” out and latch on!
IF YOU WANT TO USE CHEMICALS:
Spray your clothes hours before you go with permethrin. Hold your breath. Don’t breathe it In. Don’t get it into your eyes. Don’t get it on your skin. On your skin spray Picaridin. I personally will not use a product with DEET. You research it for yourself. There are all natural liquids to spray and contain clove, creeping thyme, citronella, lemon eucalyptus, peppermint, and perhaps some others.
WHERE A HAT:
Wear long pants and put long white socks over the pant bottom. Use the lightest color you can for a long sleeve shirt. If possible button the shirt.
While hiking have each other regularly look at others to see if there are ticks ANYWHERE on the body. Don’t bring a dog if they have lots of furry paws. I have seen dozens of ticks get on a dog’s paws and legs in 2 hours without ever brushing up against anything.
Do not put anything down on the ground. A tick can jump on for a joy ride.
AFTER THE HIKE:
take off all clothing and shoes and put them into a plastic bag and seal it. Inspect yourself SYSTEMATICALLY AND COMPLETELY. HAVE. SOMEONE ELSE CHECK YOU. Then one more time check again.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND A TICK:
If you find a tick use a tick key to remove it. If you don’t have one then use tweezers but you must get under the tick like THE TICK APP before the government says. Seek medical care if you have any doubt that you were bitten or if you don’t think that a part of the tick was removed. When you remove a tick place it in a baggy and in the freezer so it could be inspected later if necessary.
For more Northwest Indiana Hiking trips and more advice, visit Ron on Facebook and Instagram
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
