It’s that time again, when the leaves begin to fall off the trees and are raked up into large piles. For some, those raked leaf piles represent an opportunity for fun. We’ve all seen videos of kids and animals jumping into those leaf piles, but is it safe? Unfortunately, those piles of leaves are the perfect environment for ticks to thrive. When jumping in, kids and dogs may inadvertently be presenting themselves as the insects’ next meal on a silver platter. Both human and canine leaf-jumpers risk contracting the bacterial infection Lyme disease. Aside from ticks, a leaf pile that’s been sitting around for a while, may have already been claimed by a variety of animals. From the harmless — like frogs and beetles — to the more serious — like spiders and snakes — there’s no telling what may be dwelling in that pile. Finally, it’s important to consider the location of a leaf pile before jumping in and playing around. The surface under it could pose an injury risk. If the leaves have all been raked onto concrete, for example, they may not provide enough cushion for a soft jump. While jumping into leaf piles poses risks, with the proper precautions it doesn’t have to be particularly dangerous. Make sure kids cover as much of their skin as possible by tucking pants into socks and sleeves into gloves. Also put on tick repellent and wait until temperatures have dropped below 40º F, as that’s when ticks enter hibernation. Of course, always do a tick check once you get inside. A tick only needs to latch onto your skin for roughly 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease.
