05/26/2026
Tick season is in full swing, y'all😲 While ticks can transmit diseases, if you're properly prepared, they don't have to stop you from enjoying the outdoors!
Here's some top tips for safely exploring:
1. Avoid tall grass, bushes, and wooded areas with lots of leaf litter. Stick to the center of trails.
2. Use insect repellent on your skin and/or permethrin on your clothing. If you're wearing sunscreen, apply that first, then insect repellent.
3. Wear long sleeves and pants that are tucked into high socks or boots.
Bonus tip- bring a lint roller or roll of duct tape along to easily remove ticks (especially "seed" ticks) from your clothing.
Check for ticks on your clothing and yourself when you're back indoors. They especially like hiding in warm crevices, around your waist, and around hair. If you find a tick, DON'T PANIC. Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove the tick as close to your skin as possible so you fully remove the head. Wrap it tightly in tape or submerge it in alcohol and keep it just in case you develop an illness. Learn more here: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/index.html
