TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES :

Personal Protection against Tick-Borne Diseases

Ticks will remain active year-round (when temperatures are above 40°F/4.4°C). Preventive measures should be used whenever tick-exposure is likely. Here are some steps to follow::

• Wear light-colored clothing
• Wear long pants and sleeves
• Tuck your pants into your socks
• Tuck your shirt into your pants
• Consider using repellents as directed
• Walk along the center of trails
• Conduct frequent clothing checks
• Once home, dry clothing on the highest temperature setting for 10 minutes to kill any ticks
• Carefully inspect your body for ticks
• Keep pets from tick infested areas and check them before entering the house.

Repellents

Repellents may be used to repel ticks and prevent tick attachment. Always read and follow all label directions carefully.

• Repellents containing DEET may be applied to the skin and clothing. Lower concentrations of DEET are preferable, especially for children.
• Repellents containing permethrin may be applied to clothing only.
• Insect Repellent Essentials: A Brief Guide by the CDC Northeast Regional Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases.

For information about ticks and tick-borne diseases and protection, please click here.

MOSQUITOES AND MOSQUITO-SPREAD DISEASES

When in the park, patrons are encouraged to avoid outings at night (from sunset to sunrise); to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants; and use repellents on exposed skin and clothing.

Upon notification from the Health Department, the Parks Department may have to close parks during evening and early morning hours to protect visitors from mosquitoes infected by the West Nile Virus. The Health Department conducts routine tests on pools of mosquitoes found within the parks, and when mosquitoes test positive for West Nile, the campground or park will close, and evening activities will be prohibited. Signs will be posted at the park, and information will be provided on the Parks Website. The park will continue normal hours and operations when three consecutive test samples return negative for the West Nile Virus.

For more information about mosquitos, the disease they cause and your personal protection, please click here.

SUN SAFETY

The Parks Department provides a wide array of recreational opportunities to park visitors including golf, hiking, camping, bird watching, sunbathing, swimming, horseback riding, boating, fishing, and more. While taking part in any outdoor activity, the Parks Department encourages all patrons to take proper precautions to protect themselves against skin cancer and other health related problems by wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and staying in shady areas as much as possible.

May is "Melanoma Awareness Month" in Suffolk County.

24-hour qualification course sessions take place on Sundays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Suffolk County Community College Riverhead Campus Pool.

For more information about sun safety and how to practice sun safety, click here.

WILD ANIMALS

Seals and Whales

Be sure to stay at least 150 feet from the marine mammal or sea turtle. Report all dead, sick, or wounded marine animals to NYS Stranding Hotline immediately at 631.369.9829.
https://www.amseas.org/reportsighting

New York State law prohibits all feeding of wild white-tailed deer in New York State. Violation can result in fines and/or imprisonment. For your safety and the Deer’s safety, this State law will be enforced! (6 NYCRR Part 189 Chapter 1)

A wild animal’s survival depends on its ability to make use of natural foods. Unfortunately, many people feed wildlife. Feeding wild animals such as geese, ducks, deer, raccoons, squirrels, etc., is not healthy for the animal or the environment. Feeding wildlife can cause malnutrition, disease, environmental quality problems, and wildlife/human conflicts.

MALNUTRITION
Handouts of food, even those we consider to be healthy, rarely meet all the nutritional needs of wildlife. In fact, handouts may cause many animals to gather and remain in a small area. As a result, wildlife depletes the healthy natural foods in that area, leaving less nutritious food to eat. By not feeding the wildlife, you help to protect the health of the animals as well as their food supply.

DISEASE
Crowding and competition for food, combined with the stresses of less nutritious food, can increase the susceptibility of individual animals to diseases and parasites. This is especially true with waterfowl, with many cases of botulism documented in New York. Concentrating mammals such as raccoons and foxes, by feeding them can spread diseases such as distemper, mange, and rabies. Feeding deer puts them at risk for contracting and spreading chronic wasting disease, that causes neurodegeneration. These diseases result in slow, agonizing death for the infected animals. Many wildlife diseases can be transmitted to pets, and some to humans, such as rabies and raccoon roundworms. People who feed wildlife risk being bitten. Bites can cause substantial injury and trauma. There is risk of a person becoming infected with rabies if bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. If left untreated, rabies is fatal.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PROBLEMS
Feeding wildlife such as ducks and geese can lead to overcrowding in an area. When birds feed on scattered bread, they defecate in the same place they eat. More birds mean more droppings. The excess feces can result in land and water pollution. In addition to being harmful to the birds, the unnatural number of bird droppings can create an unsanitary environment for people. The excess nutrients from bird droppings can lead to water quality problems such as excessive summer algal blooms, which can reduce water oxygen levels and cause fish kills.

WILDLIFE/HUMAN CONFLICTS
Animals that are fed lose their fear of people and develop unnatural behaviors and habits, which result in conflicts with humans. Wildlife that has lost their natural fear of humans are more likely to cause nuisance problems. Feeding of wildlife attracts them to residential areas, exposing them to harassment of attacks by family pets. Deer can cause extensive damage to landscape plantings. Concentration of animals along roadways caused by feeding can be a hazard to motorists. Animals fed from vehicles lose their natural fear of them and may even approach or chase cars when seeking food. Such animals have a greater risk of being struck by a vehicle.

Wild Animal Bites

Rabies, a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system, is most often seen among wild animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes, but any mammal can be infected with rabies. Pets and livestock can get rabies if they are not vaccinated to protect them against infection.

If you are exposed to rabies Wash all wounds thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.

Report all animal bites to your county health department, even if they seem minor.

Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services at (631) 854-0333 weekdays, 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

For more information, please click here: https://suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/Health-Services/Diseases-and-Illness/Report-Animal-Bites