How to Prevent, Spot, and Safely Remove Ticks

Ticks aren’t just a backwoods problem anymore. Their range is expanding, and the risks they carry are growing, too. Warmer winters, earlier springs, and changing ecosystems are creating ideal conditions for tick populations to spread across the United States. What used to be considered a concern mainly in the Northeast or Upper Midwest is now relevant just about everywhere in the U.S.

Whether you're hiking in the woods, walking through your backyard, or visiting a local park, being tick-aware matters more than ever.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TICKS

Ticks are stealthy and persistent, but understanding how they behave can go a long way in keeping you, your family, and pets safe. Here’s what’s important to know:

• Ticks are active whenever the ground isn’t frozen. That means spring, summer, and fall are peak seasons, but don’t let your guard down in the winter. When temperatures are just above freezing, ticks may still be out looking for a host.

• They don’t jump or fly. Ticks hang out low in brush, grass, and leaf litter. When they sense movement, body heat, or even carbon dioxide, they reach out with their front legs and grab on as you pass by. This behavior is called questing.

• They crawl upward. Once on your body, ticks tend to crawl toward warm, hidden places like the scalp, groin, armpits, or behind the knees.

• Ticks go through three active life stages:

  • Larva – about the size of a grain of sand

  • Nymph – poppy seed-sized and responsible for many Lyme cases because they’re so easy to miss

  • Adult – about the size of an apple seed

  • Note: These sizes refer to unfed ticks. Once attached, they can expand significantly as they feed.

• Infection risk increases with time. For Lyme disease, transmission usually requires a tick to be attached for at least 24 to 36 hours, but it can occur sooner. The Lyme-causing bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) lives in the tick’s gut and can take some time to migrate to the salivary glands but exactly how long is still debated. Other pathogens, like Powassan virus, can transmit in just 15 minutes to a few hours, so early removal is always best.

• Different ticks carry different diseases.

  • The black-legged tick (deer tick) is the main carrier of Lyme disease, as well as Babesia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Powassan virus.

  • The lone star tick can transmit Ehrlichia and has been linked to alpha-gal syndrome, which causes a red meat allergy.

  • The American dog tick can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.

• Learn more about the types of ticks in your area (and so much more helpful information!) at TickEncounter.

HOW TO PREVENT TICK BITES

When it comes to ticks, prevention is much easier than treatment. A few consistent habits can reduce your risk significantly:

• Wear protective clothing. Tuck pants into socks and shirts into waistbands. It might not be a fashion statement, but it works. Brands like Rynoskin offer lightweight, chemical-free options that are hard for ticks to bite through.

• Consider treating outdoor clothing and shoes with permethrin, a synthetic version of a natural insect repellent found in chrysanthemum flowers. Unlike regular bug sprays that repel, permethrin actually kills ticks on contact. You can buy clothing and gear that’s already treated, or apply a permethrin spray yourself using products like Sawyer’s. Just be sure to apply it outdoors, let it dry completely before wearing, and follow the instructions carefully for safe use. It can last up to six weeks or six washes.

• Use bug spray. Just remember it's usually only effective for 30 minutes, even if it contains DEET or Picaridin, so apply often.

• Use a lint roller on your clothes and gear after being outdoors. This can help remove ticks before they attach. Tick Mitts can be an even better option since they are reusable.

• Do daily tick checks. Focus on hidden spots like the scalp, behind ears, under arms, waistbands, groin, and behind knees. Use a magnifying glass and flashlight as needed. Make sure to also feel around for bumps since ticks, especially nymphs, can be easier to feel than see. Do tick checks even on days you weren't outside. You may have missed one the day before or a pet may have brought one inside.

• Keep a tick kit ready. Include tweezers, a flashlight, a magnifying glass, alcohol wipes, and a small bag or container. Also grab your phone for snapping a quick photo. Tick Keys are small tools that slide under a tick to remove it cleanly. They’re easy to carry and designed to avoid squeezing the tick’s body. However, they can be tricky to use on tiny ticks or hard-to-reach spots like the scalp. It may be nice to have in your tool kit but I recommend also having a good pair of tweezers.

• Tick tubes are cardboard tubes filled with permethrin-treated cotton. Mice collect the cotton for their nests, which helps kill ticks before they reach people or pets. They're a passive way to reduce tick populations but are only effective where mice are common carriers. They need seasonal replacement and won’t help with ticks spread by deer, birds, or pets.

HOW TO SAFELY REMOVE A TICK

If you find a tick, try to stay calm. Quick and careful removal reduces your risk of infection.

Here’s what to do:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.

2. Pull upward gently, slowly, and steadily. Avoid twisting or jerking to prevent leaving parts of the head or mouth in the skin. The tick may resist but will eventually release. This usually takes a minute or so...although it can feel like an eternity! Dr. Jill Crista made a great video demonstrating this.

3. Clean the area. Use rubbing alcohol or soap and water to disinfect the bite site and your hands.

4. Save the tick. Place it in a sealed plastic bag or a clean container.

5. Take a photo. Submit it to Tick Spotters to identify the species and estimate attachment time.

6. Consider testing. For added peace of mind, you can mail the tick to a company like TickReport where they will test it for Lyme and other pathogens.

7. Watch for symptoms. Fatigue, fever, headache, joint pain, and any rash (not just bull’s-eye) should prompt a call to your doctor. Please keep in mind that not every case of Lyme disease results in the characteristic bull’s-eye rash.

8. Notify your doctor. Depending on the type of tick, its life stage, and how long it was attached, your healthcare provider may recommend a preventive course of antibiotics. Sending the tick in to get tested will let you know whether antibiotics are necessary, even if you aren't showing symptoms.

EVEN WHEN YOU'RE CAREFUL, TICKS HAPPEN

In our home, we take tick checks seriously. We spend a lot of time outside so it’s part of our daily routine. Just last week, while helping my daughter wash her hair, she told me there was a sore spot on her scalp. That small comment led to a surprising find — a slightly engorged adult tick! I grabbed my tweezers, removed it carefully, and submitted a photo to Tick Spotters. It was confirmed to be a dog tick, which thank goodness rarely carries disease in our area. It had been attached for 1-2 days so that means we missed it on at least one previous tick check. This was a good reminder that you can do everything "right" and still find a tick. These moments are stressful, but knowing what to do can make all the difference.

Dog tick found on my daughter's scalp

Ticks are part of our new normal, and their spread is influenced by a changing climate and shifting habitats. While that sounds daunting, the good news is that there’s a lot you can do to reduce your risk and respond quickly if a tick shows up.

Consistent prevention habits, a few smart tools, and knowing what to do if a tick is found can go a long way. And remember, no one gets it perfect every time. Even in a tick-aware household, things can be missed. That’s why preparation and education matter. Let’s make outdoor time feel safe again.

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Resources

• https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tickbornediseases/index.html

• https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/

• https://vtlyme.org/2019/03/24/misinformation-lyme-disease-vt-2019/