Everything You Need to Know About Ticks: Prevention, Removal, Disposal & Care
KNOWLEDGE
Exposure to ticks can occur year round, but ticks are mostly active during April - September. Ticks transmit multiple infectious diseases, including Lyme Disease, caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, as well as Powassan virus. The Powassan virus is rare, however, it can be deadly. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently confirmed a deadly incident of Powassan virus in Maine, April 21, 2022.
Ticks are parasites and are from the arachnid family, not an insect as most believe. They survive on the blood of humans and animals and are considered disease vectors, meaning they are carriers of disease and transmit the disease to humans and animals when they bite. They are the modern day Vampires.
You do not need to go into the woods to be exposed to ticks. Ticks love tall grassy, bushy areas, leaf piles, wood piles, sports fields, stone walls and can be found in most lawns and neighborhoods.
PREVENTION
How do you prevent being exposed to ticks?
1. Use Insect Repellent. We recommend Avon's Skin So Soft (SSS), it's effective and you can spray on clothes to treat before going out; easily washes out of clothes after your outdoor adventure. Avon's SSS is also EPA approved. Check out the EPA site for more options: Check with your veterinarian for the best solutions for your pet(s); there are different types for dogs to include applying in between the hair by nape of neck, to a pill.
2. Check Yourself & Your Dog(s) Examine yourself, your clothes and your dog(s) when you come inside.
3. Use a comb (metal if possible) to check your hair, especially underneath the nape of your neck if you have long hair, your arms, belly, legs and back. For your dog(s), make sure you comb thoroughly and slowly and check inside the ears too.
REMOVAL
Proper removal is key
Use clean, fine-tipped (metal is best) tweezers. Wipe the tweezers with alcohol before using. Apply tweezers as close to the skin as possible to make sure you get the head and mouth of the tick out. Pull up on the tweezers with even pressure; do not twist to get the tick out. If you were not able to get the tick out whole, use the tweezers to get any remaining parts out.
Use rubbing alcohol to clean the area of the tick bite as well as your hands, or use soap & water.
DISPOSING OF TICK
Never crush tick with hands/fingers, this can expose you to disease. Use methods below:
Never crush a tick with your hands/fingers, as this can expose you to disease. Use the methods below:
1. Put the tick in alcohol
2. Place tick in container with lid or a sealed bag
3. Wrap tick tightly in tape
4. Check with your local hospitals/Town/State/State Universities to see if they have
any Tick Labs or programs for testing ticks. Tick Labs are for testing the types of
diseases ticks carry for scientific and medical data. These labs do not test humans;
if you feel you have a tick borne disease, seek medical attention (see below CARE
for further explanation).
5. If you live in Maine, visit The University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Tick Lab.
6. You can also Flush the tick down the toilet. Just make sure it actually gets flushed.
CARE
What do you do if you found a tick and are now feeling sick?
1. If you start to feel ill, stomach upset, fever within weeks of a tick bite, see a doctor. 2. Tell your doctor about the tick bite: date when the bite occurred, where you were when you got bit (e.g. home lawn, woods, trail, etc). 3. Tell your doctor if you still have the tick (saved in a sealed jar) or if you brought the tick to be tested somewhere
Knowledge is key to success, so I hope this was informative and allows you to continue to stay safe while enjoying all your activities outdoors! Visit Our Shop Today for All Your Outdoor Pet and Athletic Gear!