Prepare Before Going into Nature
- Wear light-colored clothing: long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Tuck you pant legs into socks. Wear a hat.
- Always apply tick repellent. Lemon eucalyptus and rose geranium oils repel ticks. There are several all-natural sprays available. Products with DEET are also effective.
- Products containing Permethrin may be used on clothing, gear and your property.
- Stay in the middle of the trail and away from foliage.
- Don’t sit on logs, lean against trees, or walk through tall grass.
After Being in Nature
- Perform tick checks (yourself, children and pets).
- Focus on hard to reach areas (scalp, folds and creases).
- If bitten, remove the tick using a tick key or tweezers. If you do not have tweezers, use protective gloves (or bag). Pull straight up and away from skin. Do not twist.
- IMPORTANT! Save the tick in a plastic bag and contact TickReport, Ticknology or IGeneX Lab for testing.
- Visit the After the Bite page for more information.