Between March 23 and April 2, five dead beavers were discovered near the Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter. All five beavers shared one lodge, and samples collected from one of the beavers tested positive for tularemia.
Tularemia is caused by a bacteria and is an infectious disease that is often fatal in rabbits, hares, and other rodents, including beavers. Although humans can get tularemia, the risk to human health is low.
Human cases typically result from the bite of a tick or deerfly or when someone handles rabbits or hares killed during hunting season. It’s important to keep in mind that ticks and deerflies can carry multiple diseases. Health officials in Summit County encourage residents to take protective actions against ticks and deerflies as the season changes. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, wear insect repellent, and check for ticks after spending time outside.
If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove the tick as soon as possible. There are several tick removal devices on the market, but a plain set of fine-tipped tweezers works very well.
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth parts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouth easily with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water. Never crush a tick with your fingers.
Dispose of a live tick by:
- Putting it in alcohol.
- Placing it in a sealed bag/container.
- Wrapping it tightly in tape, or
- Flushing it down the toilet.