Yes, though ticks are mostly concentrated at the edges of the trail rather than on the path itself. Ticks hold their front legs out and grab whatever brushes past, which is why you don’t want to come into contact with tall grass or brushy edges.
Ticks can’t jump or fly. That doesn’t stop them from getting around, though. They need physical contact to travel, which is why they climb on grass and greenery and wait at roughly ankle or knee height. If you happen to brush by, you could end up with a tick on your leg.
Trails are great places for ticks to stay. They need to stay in shaded, humid environments, which trails are. Leaf litter is a great place for them to retreat and overwinter. Plus, deer and other small mammals are always moving through, which means ticks can easily hitch a ride and get dropped off in a new place.
Ticks are a big problem in West Michigan. Blacklegged ticks have spread a lot in the last decade, and they're the ones that carry Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Ottawa, Muskegon, and Allegan county trail systems all run through blacklegged tick habitat.
To avoid unnecessary tick encounters, stay in the middle of the trail. Don’t sit on logs or stone walls. Don’t touch leaf litter. You will likely also want to tuck your pants into your socks so there is no gap at the ankle and wear light colors so any hitchhikers are more easily spotted.
If you spend a lot of time on the trails, you might want to treat your clothes with permethrin. It’s worth the upgrade because it drops ticks on contact. You can also use repellent with DEET or picaridin on exposed skin.
When you go back inside, check yourself for ticks. They tend to go toward the hairline, ears, waistband, groin, and behind the knees. Remove any you find promptly as that can greatly reduce your odds of contracting a tickborne disease.
If your trail habit keeps producing ticks, Mosquito Squad of West Michigan Lakeshore can help. Mosquito Squad treats the brushy edges and leaf litter where ticks wait for a host. This will help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring cycle.
