While we’re sad to let go of an all-too-short summer, the beauty of autumn in Maine cannot be denied. From vibrant foliage, to crisp apples, to cozy woodstoves, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Fall is the perfect time to enjoy the simplicity that Maine is known for, and without the pressing worry of overheating, it’s also a great time to explore the outdoors with your pets! We’ve compiled a few safety tips to help you make your fall a safe & fun experience for all.

Hunting Season Safety

Hiking through the woods with your dog is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the scenery and mild weather. However, Maine fall also brings along hunting season, which presents its own set of safety considerations for outdoor recreation.

It may not be stylish, but blaze orange is the top safety recommendation of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Regarding deer hunting season, their website states: 

“One article must be a solid-colored hunter orange hat; the other must cover a major portion of the torso, such as a jacket, vest, coat or poncho and must be a minimum of 50% hunter orange in color.” 

While only required by law for hunters, it is recommended for everyone who is enjoying the woods during hunting season to follow these guidelines. And let’s not forget the dogs! If you’re hiking with your pets, make sure they too are sporting their blaze orange. Bandanas – or even better, vests! – are great ways to make sure your pup is visible and easily identifiable while out hiking.

Ticks!

With the return of fall, we always see a surge of tick activity. An array of tick-borne diseases can affect humans, dogs, and cats alike. And some of these buggers are TINY! It’s not enough to rely on seeing them and removing them. It’s important to protect yourself and your pets from both exposure and infection. This means making efforts to prevent ticks from getting on you, checking yourself and pets regularly for ticks, and removing ticks before disease transmission can occur.

In addition to medical flea and tick prevention purchased from your veterinarian, you can also reduce your risk by:

• Avoiding tick-dense areas (they love leaf litter, dense brush, and tall grass) 
• Staying in the center of the path, away from edges
• Using a tick repellent before each outdoor activity
• IMPORTANT! Read your labels. There are products that are safe for dogs, but not cats.
• Doing a tick check after your outings – some folks like a lint roller!

For more information about tick safety, prevention, and diseases The University of Maine’s Cooperative Extension: Tick Lab is a great resource. Check it out here: https://extension.umaine.edu/ticks/management/pet-protection/

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