Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
attach themselves to objects pushing through. Always wear light-colored clothing,
long sleeves, and long pants, and tuck the cuffs into your boots. A hat is always a
good idea. Walk in the center of trails and avoid branches and grasses whenever pos-
sible. Check yourself and others
thoroughly,
paying particular attention to the hair.
Childrenarealwayscandidatesfortickattachment.Checkeverybodyevery24hours,
even if you haven't been in the deep woods. Studies have indicated that the deer tick
must be attached to your skin for 24-72 hours before the bacterium is spread. Pet
owners beware: Domestic animals can develop Lyme disease, and this is not limited
to hunting dogs, so check them as well.
West Nile virus is spread by common mosquitoes, so it's imperative you don't
walk around at night in shorts and flip-flops without insect repellent.
People swear by insect repellents using DEET. But remember that DEET's cock-
tail of toxicology has caused death in children, and unsubstantiated reports have
shown that high concentrations of it for long exposures can do very bad things to
your nervous system. If you use DEET, buy it in concentrations of no higher than 20
percentforkids,30percentforadults.Idon'tcarewhodisagrees:so-called“natural”
repellents aren't worth a tinker's damn.
A Lyme disease vaccine was pulled from the market in 2002 (class-action suits
persist); it's still in canine form for pets.
Paramount: Do not panic every time you pull a tick out. The chances are good
it's a dog tick, and even if it is a deer tick, it doesn't automatically guarantee Lyme
disease. The best way to remove it if you do find one is to grasp it with tweezers as
close to the skin as possible and tug it out gently. (Do not jerk or twist, because the
head will come off and cause infection. Also, avoid the old method of using a match
to “burn” them out; all this does is crisp it and leave the head in.) Disinfect the area
thoroughly. You may want to save the tick's body in a plastic bag with a cotton ball
soaked in alcohol. Wash your hands after removing the tick.
The state also boasts a mammoth national forest: the
Chequamegon-Nicolet,
totaling 1.5
million acres and inspiring two national scenic trails. And the final jewel is a rare nation-
al lakeshore:
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
Wisconsin alone has the
Ice Age Na-
