![\"Tick](\"\/\/www.walkhighlands.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/tickmcofs.jpg\")
<\/a>Tick (photo: MCofS)<\/p><\/div>
\nThose perennial pests of the Scottish hills and countryside are back.<\/p>\n
And while the physical and mental health benefits of hill walking are well known, walkers should still be aware of an almost invisible danger. Ticks are small arthropods (related to spiders and scorpions) and are common in vegetated areas in the Scottish hills. They are particularly suited to mild damp climates and therefore thrive on the west coast mountain regions of Scotland. Aside from being a nuisance, ticks carry diseases, including Lyme disease which can be extremely serious if not diagnosed early.<\/p>\n
Heather Morning the Mountain Safety Advisor with The Mountaineering Council of Scotland is advising hill-goers to check themselves carefully after a day on the hill to ensure they haven\u2019t picked up any unwanted guests.
\nFor even after the cold and snowy spring time of 2016, the wee beasties seem to be out in force. <\/p>\n
Heather said: \u201cLast weekend we were climbing at Duntelchaig, near Loch Ness. At home later, we noticed several ticks on our feet and since then have found several latched onto our bodies even though we had checked ourselves when we got home. The dog didn\u2019t escape either; we have been removing ticks from her for several days now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heather recommends that hill walkers are vigilant and take some simple precautions such as tucking trousers into socks or wearing gaiters when on the hill. It\u2019s also well worth taking a good look at yourself when you return home to spot the ticks before they latch on. She said: \u201cFrom experience, they seem to appear even a few days later. If you find one attached to you, remove with a tick hook. If in doubt seek advice from your doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve never had a tick, check out this six-minute video clip from the MCofS to see what they look like and how to safely remove them.
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