Spring is upon us, and so are the loveliest of wildlife’s offerings: wood ticks.

At least three ticks used me to hitch a ride into Merritt after a short hike at Monck Park last Sunday. If you are planning to brave the wilderness (and it doesn’t even have to be that wild) any time soon, please take my tips to ensure you come home tick-free:

  • Cover every square inch of your being (except your eyeballs) in DEET
  • Sport knee socks (pants tucked in, of course) and elbow-length gloves (princess-style or rubber, your choice) in extremely bright colours
  • Full safety goggles
  • A swimming or shower cap (I’m pretty sure the ticks in question hitched a ride back into town in my totally habitable ponytail).

You may look a bit freaky on the hiking trails in your swim cap, safety goggles, elbow-length gloves and neon knee-highs, but trust me, it’ll be worth it.

Deer crossing

It’s not just little blood-suckers that are out in droves these days. Dozens of deer along Monck Park Road and in the fields grazed alongside cattle and calves that fateful tick-filled day. The deer and cattle grazing in vegetarian harmony was a wonderfully adorable sight, but it’s also a reminder to be wary of deer so close to roadways. In a few prances on those long stems of theirs, deer can be on the road in a flash. And once they’re there, we all know they’re not exactly the swiftest at moving out of the way.

In fact, my chauffeur had to come to a near complete stop on the highway between Kelowna and Vernon for a deer who was frozen in fear after ending up in the middle of the lanes.

It’s that time of year when deer start moving down, so drive with caution out there.

Events a-coming

Of course, the onset of spring also means a huge increase in the number of activities and events going on around town.

I’ve got loads of event preview stories on my radar. Here are some of the things coming up:

  • The community yard sale on Saturday at the Civic Centre
  • The first ever Great Cloth Diaper Change in Merritt on Saturday at the Legion
  • April 30 to May 7 will be a week-long new recruit bootcamp at the provincial wildfire base here in town
  • Dual Olympian Clara Hughes will stop by the Civic Centre on May 20 to talk mental health
  • May 3 brings a trio of bands with Merritt roots back to the stage at the Culture Club
  • May 7 is McHappy Day, which brings dozens of people from all aspects of community life together to raise funds for B.C. Children’s Hospital
  • The Big Bike will roll through town for Heart and Stroke on May 9
  • May 31 is the annual Relay for Life, which benefits cancer research.

This list is by no means inclusive, and if you’re looking for more goings-on, all you’ve got to do is keep your ear to the street and your eyes on poster boards around town for more events as they crop up.