As the weather gets warmer and days grow longer, many of us spend more time outdoors — walking, gardening, hiking, camping, attending sports, visiting parks, or simply enjoying the backyard. But warmer weather also means more opportunities for tick exposure. Ticks can be active year-round, but they are most active during the warmer months, especially from April through September. That makes spring, summer, and early fall an important time to build tick prevention into your outdoor routine.
In Connecticut, tick bite prevention is especially important. The Connecticut Department of Public Health notes that several tick species found in the state can spread diseases to people, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Powassan virus disease, spotted fever rickettsiosis, and tularemia. The best protection is prevention: repel ticks before you go outside, check for ticks when you come back in, and remove attached ticks quickly and properly.
See the Tick Bite Bot — Interactive Tool for Tick Bite Management
Step One: Repel Ticks Before You Go Outside
Tick prevention starts before you head outdoors. Ticks are commonly found in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, but they can also be found in yards and neighborhoods. Activities like gardening, walking the dog, hiking, camping, and playing outside can all bring people into contact with ticks.
Before spending time outdoors, use an EPA-registered insect repellent that is labeled for ticks. The CDC recommends products containing ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone. Always follow the product label, and remember that products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol should not be used on children under age 3.
The EPA also offers a repellent search tool that allows people to choose products based on whether they need protection from mosquitoes, ticks, or both, and how long they expect to be outdoors. This can be helpful when planning for short walks, full-day hikes, outdoor work, or family events.
Clothing can add another layer of protection. When possible, wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Tucking pants into socks may not win any fashion awards, but it can help keep ticks on the outside of clothing where they are easier to spot. Light-colored clothing can also make ticks easier to see.
For added protection, the CDC recommends treating boots, clothing, and outdoor gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin or purchasing permethrin-treated clothing and gear. Permethrin should be used only as directed on the label and should not be applied directly to skin.
Step Two: Check Yourself, Children, Pets, and Gear for Ticks
After spending time outdoors, make tick checks part of your routine—just like washing your hands or putting away outdoor gear. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing, pets, backpacks, coats, and other items, then attach later. The CDC recommends checking pets, clothing, and gear after being outside.
Showering soon after coming indoors can also help. The CDC notes that showering within 2 hours of entering has been shown to reduce the risk of Lyme disease and may help reduce the risk of other tickborne diseases. A shower also provides a good opportunity to do a careful tick check.
When checking for ticks, look carefully at warm, hidden, or hard-to-see areas of the body, including:
- Under the arms
- In and around the ears
- Inside the belly button
- Behind the knees
- Between the legs
- Around the waist
- Along the hairline and scalp
Parents and caregivers should check children closely after outdoor play, especially after time in wooded areas, tall grass, leaf litter, camps, fields, or backyards near brush. Pets should also be checked, as ticks can attach to them or be carried indoors on their fur.
Clothing matters after outdoor activity, too. If ticks may be on clothing, the CDC recommends tumble-drying clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing. If clothes need to be washed first, hot water is recommended, as cold or medium-temperature water will not kill ticks.
Step Three: Remove Attached Ticks Quickly and Correctly
If you find a tick attached to your skin, do not panic—but do remove it as soon as possible. The CDC advises removing an attached tick promptly rather than waiting to have a health care provider remove it, because delaying removal can increase the risk of tickborne disease.
To remove a tick safely:
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers if available.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
- Do not twist, jerk, or squeeze the tick’s body.
- Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer.
Avoid using petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish, or other substances to try to make the tick detach. The CDC warns that these methods may agitate the tick and force infected fluid into the skin.
After removal, dispose of the live tick by placing it in a sealed container, wrapping it tightly in tape, putting it in alcohol, or flushing it down the toilet. Do not crush a tick with your fingers.
Know When to Call a Health Care Provider About Tick Bites
Not every tick bite leads to illness, but it is important to watch for symptoms in the days and weeks after a bite. The CDC recommends contacting a health care provider if you develop a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick. Be sure to tell the provider when the bite occurred and where you may have picked up the tick.
Early symptoms of Lyme disease can appear 3 to 30 days after a tick bite and may include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, or a rash. The rash does not always look like a classic “bull’s-eye,” so any expanding rash after a tick bite should be taken seriously.
If symptoms develop, do not wait for tick testing results before seeking care. The CDC notes that tick testing is generally not recommended for treatment decisions because a positive test result does not necessarily indicate infection, and a negative test can provide false reassurance.
Make Tick Prevention a Habit
Tick prevention does not mean staying indoors. It means enjoying the outdoors with a few simple precautions. Before going outside, use repellent and dress with ticks in mind. After coming indoors, check your body, your children, your pets, your clothing, and your gear. If you find a tick attached, remove it quickly and correctly.
As more people head outside to enjoy the warmer weather, a simple “repel, check, remove” routine can help protect individuals and families from tick bites and tick-borne illnesses. A few minutes of prevention can make outdoor activities safer, healthier, and more enjoyable all season long.
