How to protect yourself from ticks year-round
Ticks aren’t just a summer problem — they can be active in any season. Whether you’re hiking, gardening, or simply enjoying the outdoors, it’s smart to take precautions and check for ticks after spending time outside.
Ticks Are a Year-Round Concern
“Every season is tick season,” says Sam Telford, an infectious disease expert at Tufts University. While summer tends to get more attention because people are outdoors more, ticks can be active in the spring, fall, and even mild winters.
Some areas, like Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, are currently seeing above-average numbers of American dog ticks. New York is also reporting more deer tick bites this year compared to last, according to Saravanan Thangamani, a tick-borne disease researcher at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
How Ticks Spread Disease
Ticks are tiny creatures that feed on blood — not with a quick bite like mosquitoes, but by attaching themselves with their hooked mouthparts. They’ll latch onto animals or people and stay for hours, even days.
Not all ticks carry diseases, but some do. The most well-known is the blacklegged tick (also called the deer tick), which can transmit Lyme disease. These ticks are now found in more areas than before, especially in the Northeast and Midwest.
The good news? If you catch and remove a tick within 24 hours, your chance of getting sick is low.
How to Check for Ticks
Ticks tend to hang out in tall grass, leaf piles, and wooded areas close to the ground. After spending time outside:
- Check your clothes and body for ticks
- Don’t forget spots like behind your ears, underarms, knees, and scalp
- Take a shower soon after coming indoors — it can help wash off ticks you didn’t notice
Dr. Bobbi Pritt from the Mayo Clinic suggests doing a quick check every few hours if you’re outside all day.
If you find a tick, use tweezers to grab it as close to your skin as possible and gently pull it out. No tweezers? A credit card edge or even your fingernails will do in a pinch.
How to Keep Ticks Away
Prevention is the best defense. Here’s how to make yourself less of a target:
- Use bug spray with DEET on exposed skin
- Spray clothes with permethrin, a tick-repelling chemical found in some flowers
- Wear long sleeves and pants in grassy or wooded areas
Don’t Forget Your Pets
Ticks love dogs and cats, too. Even if your pet is on flea and tick meds, always check their fur — especially:
- Around the ears
- Under the collar
- Around the muzzle
- Between the toes
Ticks can hitch a ride on pets and end up crawling around your home. Some can survive indoors for months until they find a new host — like you.
What to Do After a Tick Bite
After removing a tick, keep an eye on the bite area. If you notice a rash or feel flu-like symptoms in the days or weeks afterward, it’s best to see a doctor.
The CDC doesn’t recommend sending ticks for testing, as the results can be unreliable.
Final Thoughts
Ticks are a part of nature, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the outdoors. A few simple steps — like checking your body, protecting your pets, and using repellent — can go a long way in keeping you and your family safe from tick-borne illnesses.
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