Advice issued as tick season approaches in Wiltshire
Ticks are most active in the Spring months between April and June
Wiltshire's health bosses have issued advice to protect us from ticks when out and about this Spring.
The parasites can carry Lyme disease and are most active between April and June.
While not all ticks are infectious, we're encouraged to take steps to avoid contact with them.
We're advised to use insect repellents that prevents ticks, reducing exposed skin and to keep to clearly defined paths.
We're told to check regularly and to brush any ticks off immediately and to also check for any on children or pets when back at home.
Ticks can be removed with a tick-removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers.
If a person does suffer a tick bite, symptoms of Lyme disease including a 'bullseye' rash developing three to 30 days after the bite, fever, headache and fatigue, nerve pains and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
The disease is treatable although delaying treatment can lead to further complications.