Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area: Ticks are particularly active in spring. Team members have been advised by hikers that they have experienced, in some cases, hundreds of ticks on them after hikes through the Newton Canyon/Zuma Canyon area off of Kanan Road in Malibu.
Hikers are advised to do a "tick check" on themselves, on friends, and on pets, thoroughly during and after a hike. Wear long pants and shirts tucked in to avoid contact. Remove ticks immediately if they are not imbedded. Some ticks transmit diseases. If bitten by a tick, do not try to remove as it may leave the tick's head in the skin, which can continue to suck blood, deposit disease and cause infection. Contact your doctor immediately and visit an urgent care or emergency facility to have the tick removed properly. If left unattended, tick bites can cause serious illness and injury. For more information, consult the following, among other information that is widely available on the Internet.
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http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCUQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smcmad.org%2Fdata%2Fbrochures%2Ftickborne%2Fwallet_tick_dhs_eng_2005.pdf&rct=j&q=%22ticks%20in%20california%22&ei=o-y2TZj_CYPhiAKlkfgU&usg=AFQjCNFVItMC9VikhIA-g5u8tWrNxzFu0g
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HEALTHINFO/DISCOND/Pages/TickBorneDiseases.aspx
This is a public service announcement and is not intended as, nor should it be interpreted as, medical advice by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Malibu Search and Rescue or any employees or agents thereof.