FYI: Dog ticks survive by feeding on people and animals but can live up to two years without a host body

Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can cause illnesses in humans. Some of the most common tick-borne illnesses in North America include: Lyme disease, babesiosis (pronounced “buh-BEE-zee-oh-sis”), ehrlichiosis (“err-lik-ee-OH-sis”), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, anaplasmosis, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and tularemia. 

Ticks can’t fly or jump, but will hold onto leaves along popular trails with their legs outstretched, waiting to climb on to a person or animal—this is called questing.

The tick will quickly attach themselves when a person or animal brushes the spot where a tick is waiting. Some ticks will attach quickly and others will wander, looking for places like the ear, or other areas where the skin is thinner.

You never know how or when ticks may attach themeselves. Be sure to check for ticks whenever you go outside.

How To Protect Yourself From Ticks 

When hiking, try to walk in the center of the trail and avoid tall grasses.

Check yourself and your kids for ticks every few hours. Check your head, ankles, wrists and waistbands.

Cover your skin by wearing long sleeves and long pants. Pull socks over the cuffs of your pants to prevent ticks from attaching to the skin around your ankles.

Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings.

How Does DEET Work?

Use DEET insect repellent, which can be effective in repelling ticks. DEET (the chemical name is N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) doesn’t kill ticks. DEET works by making it hard for ticks to smell us.

DEET comes in a variety of formulas from 5 to 99% DEET and may be applied to the skin and clothing being worn as well as on cats, dogs, horses and pet living/sleeping quarters. DEET SHOULD BE USED SPARINGLY to keep exposure and other potential side effects like rashes to a minimum. It is used to control biting flies, biting midges, black flies, chiggers, deer flies, fleas, gnats, horse flies, mosquitoes, no-see-ums, sand flies, small flying insects, stable flies, and ticks.