Warning to estate visitors as tick bite season starts

VISITORS to one of Bristol’s most popular beauty spots have been advised to check themselves and their pets as tick season begins.

Last week the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) highlighted how ticks in England can carry infections, including Lyme disease and even tickborne encephalitis on rare occasions.

A spokesman said: “Ticks can be active all year round, but they are most active in the months April to July, and sometimes later in the autumn. Activity continues over the winter months but at a significantly reduced level. So, we are reminding people to be ‘tick aware’ as they enjoy the great outdoors at any time of the year.”

In Bristol, the city council has its own advice on ticks and notes that one parkland in particular is a known habitat. The council’s guide advises: “You could be exposed to ticks whenever you spend time outdoors, including time spent in our woodlands, estates, nature reserves and meadows. “Ticks have been reported at Ashton Court Estate, in the grass fields. To prevent tick bites, walk on clearly defined paths, to avoid brushing against vegetation, use insect repellent [and] perform regular tick checks on yourself, other household members and your pets...You should check yourself for ticks after you’ve visited a park or woodland and remove any you find.”

A 2013 University of Bristol study into the prevalence of ticks used Ashton Court, pictured, as its sample area, and specifically looked at the potential impact on dogs. Researchers concluded: “Tick infestation of dogs in a peri-urban park is a relatively frequent occurrence and the frequencies reported here are likely to be conservative annual estimates with a considerable degree of under-reporting. “All dogs that are walked regularly in this park are likely to acquire at least one tick infestation per year. All dogs appear to be at equal risk regardless of walk route, although owners of short-haired dogs were more likely to report ticks; infestation was primarily influenced by the frequency of exposure in the park.”