TICKS

Note: These images are enlarged to show detail. Ticks are very small, ranging in size of a poppy seed to a watermelon seed.

The image above shows three different tick species known to be present in the State of Massachusetts: Black-legged Tick (AKA Deer Tick), Dog Tick, and Lone Star Tick. Ticks can carry diseases, such as Lyme Disease, that can affect both people and animals. For more information on tick-borne diseases, please visit: Ticks | CDC.

HOW TO STAY SAFE

You can help decrease your risk of getting ticks on you by following these prevention tips:

• Stick to main pathways and the center of trails when hiking.

• Wear light colored long-sleeved shirt tucked into light-colored long pants that are tucked into your socks.

• Use a tick repellent. Mosquito repellent may also be used to prevent tick bites. Learn more about tick repellents here.

WHERE TICKS LIVE

You may think ticks only live in the woods, but ticks can be in your own backyard! Learn how to make your yard less inviting to ticks in the video below:   

WHEN TICKS ATTACK

Ticks are patient predators, but they are NOT jumpers! They cling to leaves or blades of grass with their hind legs and stretch out their front legs, waiting for a person or animal to brush past. When contact is made, the tick latches on and climbs until it finds a suitable spot to bite and feed.

Ticks can range in size, from the size of a poppy seed to a watermelon seed. See how tiny adult black-legged ticks are in the photo below! 

CHECKING FOR TICKS

It is important to check yourself, your kids/loved ones, and your pets daily for ticks. Although ticks could be anywhere on the body, they often like the following areas the most, so it's important to pay close attention to these areas:

• Inside and behind the ears

• Along the hairline

• Back of your neck

• Armpit

• Groin

• Legs

• Behind your knees

• Between your toes

REMOVING A TICK

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.

2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you are unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.

3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

4. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.

5. If you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, see your doctor. Be sure to tell the doctor about your recent tick bite, when the bite occurred, and where you most likely acquired the tick.