Tick Tips
- Ticks do not jump, fly or drop from trees; they grasp passing hosts from the leaf litter, tips of grass, etc. Most ticks are probably picked up on the lower legs and then crawl up the body seeking a place to feed.
- Try to avoid tick-infested areas during the active months—May through August.
- Stay on established trails, and avoid brushing against vegetation.
- Wear light-colored clothing with the pants tucked into socks.
- On returning home, remove and place clothing in the dryer for a quick cycle-high heat.
- Tick bites are usually painless, consequently, many people may be unaware that they have been bitten. Ticks may attach anywhere on the body.
- Carefully inspect the body and, by using tweezers, remove any attached ticks. Also, carefully inspect children and pets. On children, all parts of the body should be examined, particularly the nape of the neck.
- Pets can bring ticks into the home, resulting in a tick bite without the person being outdoors. Dog ticks seem to prefer certain areas of the host. Although these ticks may feed anywhere on a dog, examine carefully the area between the toes, under the legs, around the ears, and in deep folds of the skin.
- A tick bite does not necessarily mean a person will develop Lyme disease. Many ticks are not infected and studies have indicated that it may require 36-48 hours or more for transmission to occur from an attached nymph.