If you live near wooded areas, grassy fields, or anywhere that blends into natural landscapes, there’s a good chance you’ve encountered ticks — those tiny, stubborn pests that feed on the blood of animals and humans. While they might seem like a minor nuisance, ticks are more than just a creepy crawler. These small arachnids can carry serious diseases, making it important to know how to protect yourself, your family, and your pets.

Why Ticks Matter

At first glance, a tick bite may not seem particularly alarming. After all, they’re small, slow-moving, and it’s not like they can drain a person of blood. But the real danger lies not in the bite itself, but in what ticks can transmit. Some ticks carry harmful bacteria and viruses that they can pass on to humans or animals during feeding. These include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis, among others.

Many of these illnesses can lead to long-term health complications if not caught and treated early. Symptoms may not appear right away, which makes awareness and prevention especially important.

Prevention Starts With Awareness

The best way to avoid tick-related diseases is to avoid being bitten in the first place. While complete prevention is impossible, you can significantly reduce your risk by taking a few simple precautions:

• Wear protective clothing when spending time in areas where ticks are common. Long sleeves, pants tucked into socks, and closed shoes offer a barrier between your skin and any waiting ticks.

• Use tick repellents containing DEET or permethrin (for clothing) to help deter ticks from latching on.

• Stay on clear paths and avoid brushing against tall grasses, leaf litter, or dense shrubs, where ticks are more likely to wait for a host.

When you return home after outdoor activities, it’s important to do a full-body tick check. Look carefully behind ears, around the waistline, behind knees, and underarms. Showering soon after being outdoors can also help wash off ticks before they’ve had a chance to attach.

Finding a Tick on Your Skin

If you do find a tick attached to your skin, don’t panic — but act quickly. Removing the tick as soon as possible lowers the risk of disease transmission. Here’s how to do it safely:

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

2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking, which could cause the tick’s mouthparts to break off and stay in the skin.

3. Clean the bite area and your hands thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, iodine, or soap and water.

Do not attempt to burn the tick, coat it with petroleum jelly, or use other “folk remedies.” These methods can increase the risk of the tick regurgitating into the wound, possibly spreading disease.

What to Do With the Tick

Once removed, it’s important to dispose of the tick properly. You can:

• Place it in a sealed container or plastic bag.

• Flush it down the toilet.

• Wrap it in tape or tissue before disposal.

In some cases, especially if you’ve been bitten, it may be useful to save the tick in a container for identification. This can help healthcare providers determine the potential risk of disease and inform treatment decisions.

Don’t Forget Your Pets

Ticks don’t only target humans. Pets, particularly dogs and outdoor cats, are frequent hosts for ticks — and they can bring them into your home. Regularly check your pets for ticks, especially after walks or playtime in nature. Common areas to inspect include:

• Around the ears

• Under the collar

• Between toes

• In armpits and groin areas

Using veterinarian-approved tick prevention treatments — such as collars, topical solutions, or oral medications — adds another layer of defense.

Watch for Symptoms

Even if you remove a tick properly, it’s important to watch for symptoms in the days and weeks that follow. Early signs of tick-borne illness can include:

• Fever or chills

• Fatigue

• Headache or muscle aches

• A red rash or a distinctive “bullseye” pattern around the bite site

If any of these symptoms appear, or if you’re unsure whether the tick was removed completely, consult a healthcare professional. Early diagnosis and treatment — often with antibiotics — are crucial to avoiding more serious health issues.

A Little Caution Goes a Long Way

Ticks are a part of nature, and with more people enjoying the outdoors year-round, encounters are becoming more common. But with some awareness, the right gear, and careful habits, you can reduce the risks they pose.

Staying informed and prepared means you can continue to enjoy the beauty of nature without the unwanted bite of a tick following you home.