Ticks in Randolph County: What You Need to Know Before You Go Outside

Spring is here, the trails are open, the garden is calling, and the firewood needs splitting. It's the best time of year to be in the mountains — and it's also peak tick season. If you spend time outdoors in West Virginia, ticks aren't a maybe. They're a when.

Here's what you need to know, and what we carry at Trickett's to help you stay ahead of it.

The Threat Is Real and Growing

Lyme disease cases in West Virginia increased more than fivefold between 2016 and 2021 — from 297 reported cases to 1,542. By 2020, WV's incidence rate was 59.7 per 100,000 people, compared to a national average of just 5.5. The CDC now lists West Virginia among its high-incidence jurisdictions alongside Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. This is not a background risk for Randolph County residents — it's the dominant tick-borne threat in our region.

The other disease getting increasing attention here in Appalachia is alpha-gal syndrome — an allergic reaction to red meat and some dairy products triggered by a bite from the lone star tick. It's not an infection, it's an immune response, and it can develop in people who've spent their whole lives eating red meat without issue. Many people don't connect the dots between a tick bite weeks or months earlier and a sudden onset of allergic symptoms after a meal.

There are other tick-borne illnesses present in WV — including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which warrants a mention because it can be serious if not caught early — but Lyme and alpha-gal are the two most likely to affect Randolph County residents.

Warmer winters mean more ticks surviving through the season, staying active longer and thriving in greater numbers. This isn't strictly a summer problem anymore.

Know Your Enemy

The Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick) Primary carrier of Lyme disease. Found in wooded areas, tall grass, and leaf litter. This is the tick most Randolph County residents will encounter — and the one most likely to be missed, because it's tiny. An unfed adult is about the size of a sesame seed. A nymph — which is actually when most Lyme transmission occurs — is closer to the size of a poppy seed.

The Lone Star Tick Identified by a single white dot on the female's back. Aggressive and fast-moving — it actively seeks hosts rather than waiting. Increasingly common across WV and the primary driver of alpha-gal syndrome in our region.

The American Dog Tick Larger than the deer tick, brown with white markings, and easier to spot. Less associated with Lyme but carries Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Common along trails and anywhere dogs roam.

Prevention: Your First and Best Defense

The single most effective thing you can do is make yourself a hard target before you head out.

Use a proven repellent on your skin. We carry Roots & Leaves Bug Spray — a botanical repellent formulated with plant-based active ingredients. It's a clean, effective option particularly suited for kids and anyone who wants serious protection without the feel and smell of heavy DEET-based products. Apply to exposed skin before heading out and reapply as directed.

Dress for the encounter. Light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot. Tuck pants into socks. Wear long sleeves in brushy terrain. It looks a little goofy and works extremely well.

Do a full tick check every time you come in. Ticks prefer warm, concealed spots — behind the knees, groin, armpits, behind the ears, along the hairline. Check yourself, your kids, and your dogs before coming inside. The good news: most Lyme transmission requires the tick to be attached for 24–36 hours. Finding it early is your best protection.

When You Find One Attached

Stay calm. Ticks are removed the same way every time — close to the skin, steady upward pressure, no squeezing.

We carry Tick Tweezer tick removers at Trickett's. The fine-pointed tips are designed to grip right at the skin surface without compressing the body of the tick — squeezing can force fluids into the bite site. The Tick Tweezer gets under it cleanly and lifts straight out.

Step by step:

1. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with your Tick Tweezer

2. Pull straight up with steady, even pressure — no twisting, no jerking

3. Clean the bite site with rubbing alcohol or soap and water

4. Put the tick in a sealed bag — save it in case symptoms develop

5. Write down the date

Do not use petroleum jelly, nail polish remover, or heat to detach a tick. These cause more harm than they prevent.

After the Bite: Watch and Know the Signs

Most bites result in nothing. But monitor the bite site and watch for symptoms for at least 30 days.

See a doctor promptly if you develop:

• A bull's-eye rash at the bite site (classic Lyme sign — but it doesn't always appear)

• Fever, chills, muscle aches, or fatigue in the days or weeks following a bite

• Severe headache

• Joint pain or swelling

For alpha-gal specifically, watch for allergic reactions — hives, stomach cramps, vomiting, or in severe cases anaphylaxis — occurring 2–6 hours after eating red meat or dairy. The delayed onset is what throws people off. If this pattern develops, mention the tick bite history to your doctor — it's the key diagnostic piece.

Tell your doctor about any tick bite and when it occurred. Early treatment is highly effective for Lyme. The window for easy intervention is wide — but it doesn't stay open forever.

Roots & Leaves Bug Spray — Why It Exists

The bug spray we carry from Roots & Leaves isn't just another product on the shelf. There's a real story behind it.

Roots and Leaves was founded in 2017 by Haley Maness — and it was born out of desperation and necessity. Haley was diagnosed with Lyme disease and mold exposure, and it was wreaking havoc on her health and her life. Mainstream medicine was doing little to help, so she started researching alternative treatments and discovered the healing world of herbs. What started as personal necessity became a product line, and eventually a business built on the principle that clean, plant-based remedies deserve a place alongside conventional medicine.

Haley was miserably sick for 15 years before healing — naturally. That's not a marketing line. That's the reason the bug spray is formulated the way it is, and why every ingredient is held to the standard it is.

We carry Roots & Leaves because it's a product made by someone who personally understands what's at stake when a tick finds you — and who formulated accordingly. It's also worth noting that Roots & Leaves products aren't available on Amazon or at the big box stores. That's intentional on their part — and it's part of why it fits here.

Highland Fungi Japanese Knotweed Tincture

You've almost certainly seen Japanese knotweed taking over the roadsides and creek banks of Randolph County — it's one of the most aggressive invasive plants in Appalachia. What most people don't know is that it's also one of the most studied herbs in the context of tick-borne illness.

We carry Highland Fungi Japanese Knotweed Tincture, made locally from wild-harvested knotweed grown right here in the region. A 2020 Johns Hopkins University study found Japanese knotweed to be highly active against Borrelia burgdorferi — the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. It's considered a broad-spectrum antimicrobial with antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-spirochetal properties, and contains some of the highest concentrations of resveratrol found in any plant.

Resveratrol is also highly neuroprotective — relevant because Lyme infection can affect the brain and nervous system when left untreated.

Worth noting: the laboratory research on Japanese knotweed is promising but human clinical trials have not yet been completed. Highland Fungi's tincture is a traditional herbal supplement — a thoughtful addition to your overall approach, not a substitute for medical care if you develop symptoms after a bite. But the fact that it's made locally, from a plant growing on the same hillsides where these ticks live, is exactly the kind of thing that matters around here.

What We Carry at Trickett's for Tick Season

• Roots & Leaves Bug Spray — botanical skin repellent

• Tick Tweezer tick removers

• Highland Fungi Japanese Knotweed Tincture

Stop in at 209 Davis Ave, Elkins — Monday through Saturday. Questions about any of these products, we're happy to walk you through them.

Stay safe out there. Check yourself when you get home.

— The Team at Trickett's

This post is for informational purposes only. If you suspect a tick-borne illness, consult a healthcare provider promptly.