Unfortunately, the answer is: “Yes, there are ticks in Croatia”. Croatian word for tick is ‘krpelj’. It even sounds awful. But not everything is so bad and this article aims to inform you about everything tick-related. Like in many other parts of the world, ticks are a common animal in Croatia. Honestly, it’s one of the rare animals that we dislike. Snakes, insects of all kinds, and spiders are all perfectly fine. But ticks are… I don’t know, they are something different. And mosquitos maybe. These 2 are the worst animals in Croatia if you ask us.
Since we spend a lot of time outdoors, we have encountered ticks in Croatia many times so far. A few times they haven’t attached to our skin yet, while on some other occasions, we found them after a day or so. So far, nothing happened, although ticks can spread some nasty diseases about which we’ll discuss later in the article.
Although ticks are present in Croatia, this shouldn’t discourage you from exploring the beautiful nature of Croatia, especially knowing that ticks transmitted diseases are very very rare and there are many things you can do to prevent ticks from attaching to you in the first place.
Diseases Transmitted by Ticks in Croatia There are few most common diseases transmitted by ticks and they are listed below. From personal experience, I always felt anxious when finding the tick on my skin, especially after a day or so since the more the tick sticks, the larger the chance to transmit a disease is. But here are a few words of encouragement. Although these diseases are very nasty, I don’t remember when the last time I heard that someone got infected by a tick bite was.
So here are the most commonly tick-transmitted diseases:
Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) :
A viral infection that can affect the central nervous system. The worst disease you can get from a tick bite.
Symptoms: Fever, headache, fatigue, and in most severe cases, neurological complications that can result even in death.
Prevention: Vaccination for TBE is available and highly recommended for those spending a lot of time in tick-prone areas.
Lyme Disease :
Another nasty disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi , transmitted through tick bites.
Symptoms: Bull’s-eye rash, fever, fatigue, and joint pain. If untreated, it can lead to more severe health issues. The bull’s eye rash usually appears after some time around the bite so it’s necessary to observe the bite very carefully through the following month.
Prevention: Early removal of ticks and awareness of symptoms.
Other Diseases :
Anaplasmosis and babesiosis are less common but have been reported in Croatia.
High grass is the usual home of the ticks in Croatia, beware when walking through it How Many People Have Contracted Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Croatia? I still vividly remember a case from the early 2000s where the main news was a group of unconnected people got Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Croatia. Most of them went into a coma and had many other side effects years after. They all shared only one similarity, they visited an area in northern Croatia that is known to be the part with the most infected ticks that can easily transmit a disease. Since then, I started to dislike ticks even more and started to be more careful when exploring the outdoors.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a serious viral infection that is transmitted by tick bites. In Croatia, cases of TBE are relatively low, with approximately 20-30 cases reported annually. Most of these occur in the northern and central parts of the country, where the tick population is more concentrated. Coastal part of Croatia has way less reported cases of Tick-borne encephalitis.
When and Where Can Ticks Be Encountered? And now comes some good news. At least to an extent. Ticks are seasonal animals and they are least active during the summer, the time when Croatia is most visited. On the other hand, with milder and milder winters, they can stay active even throughout this season.
Seasonal Activity :
Ticks are most active from March to October , with peak activity in late spring and early summer.
During mild winters, ticks may remain active longer.
High-Risk Areas :
Forests and Woodlands : Especially in northern and central Croatia, such as the regions of Gorski Kotar, Zagorje, and Slavonia.Grasslands and Meadows : Common in rural areas and along hiking trails.National Parks : Places like Plitvice Lakes and Krka National Park are known for their lush vegetation, making them potential tick habitats but we are not aware of anyone getting infected there.
Forests are also common place where you can encounter ticks in Croatia What to Do After Hiking in Tick-Prone Areas As we have already mentioned, ticks in Croatia shouldn’t be the reason to scare you away from all the natural wonders of Croatia. The period when ticks are the most active is also the best period for all kinds of outdoor activities and many people enjoy them without fear.
Here are some steps that can help you stay even safer when exploring Croatia:
Conduct a Thorough Check :
After being in a tick-prone area inspect your entire body for ticks, and focus on areas like behind the knees, underarms, scalp, and groin.
Use a mirror or have a companion check hard-to-see areas.
Check Your Clothing and Gear :
Ticks can easily grasp onto clothing, backpacks, and gear. Wash and tumble-dry clothing on high heat to kill any ticks.
Shower Promptly :
Showering within two hours after being outdoors can help wash off unattached ticks and make it easier to spot them.
Remove Ticks Safely :
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
Pull upward with steady pressure; avoid twisting or jerking, which can leave parts of the tick embedded in the skin and lead to the infection of the bite area.
Clean the bite area with soap and water or an antiseptic.
products you can buy to minimize the risk of tick bite Although vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from Tick-borne encephalitis, not everyone wants to get vaccinated. And that’s perfectly fine. Still, there are few more products that can help you stay safe when exploring outdoors. We always carry a first aid kit whenever we go hiking, and we suggest you always have it with you too. First aid kit can come in handy on many occasions although we hope you’ll never need it.
We also have stick removal tools as well as some repellents we use to minimize the chance of getting bitten by a tick in Croatia. Here are some products you can that can help you when it comes to dealing with ticks:
Tick Repellents Ticks Removers: First Aid Kits:
Tips for Preventing Tick Bites Tick bites can’t be completely prevented but there are some steps you can do to minimize the chance of even getting bitten by a tick.
Wear Protective Clothing :
Long sleeves, long pants, and closed shoes reduce exposed skin and make it harder for ticks to attach to you.
Lighter colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks. It’s hard to spot them on the black clothes.
Use Tick Repellents :
Apply repellents containing DEET or permethrin to clothing and exposed skin.
Stay on Marked Trails :
Avoid walking through tall grass, bushes, and leaf litter where ticks are more likely to be found.
Vaccination :
Consider getting vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis if you’ll be spending extended time in high-risk areas.
Symptoms to Watch for After a Tick Bite Tick bite can happen even if you have taken care of all precautions, but don’t worry. There is a very low chance that you’ll get any disease. I have a few tick bites in Croatia, and some of them were from areas known for a high population of infected ticks. I didn’t like the feeling afterward and I checked the bite almost every 10 minutes and stayed focused on any symptoms that might occur.
Early Symptoms :
Fever, chills, muscle aches, or a rash around the place of a bite.
Signs of Lyme Disease :
A bull’s-eye rash, fatigue, or joint pain.
Seek Medical Attention :
If you experience unusual symptoms after a tick bite, seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Before you venture into the Croatian Outdoors We know that this article might feel like fear-mongering and discourage you from setting foot in some of the most beautiful parts of Croatia. But don’t let it happen. Like any other animal, ticks have their place in nature. Ticks in Croatia are manageable risks that you can minimize with a few extra steps when exploring outdoors. Although it might seem that ticks are very dangerous, remember that there is a very small amount of bites resulting in an infection.
Stay safe from ticks in Croatia and enjoy exploring the outdoors of this beautiful country.
