Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during the warmer months, April through September. The three most common ticks in New York State are the deer (black-legged) tick, the American dog tick and the lone star tick. Only deer ticks can carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
You Have the Power to Protect Your Family from Tick-Borne Diseases
- Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
- Wear enclosed shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
- Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors and check again once indoors.
- Use insect repellent, according to label directions.
- Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid contacting vegetation.
- Shower soon after being outdoors (ideally within 2 hrs.)
- To make checking for ticks easier, use a full-length mirror and a magnification mirror.
- After returning from outdoors, place clothes in a dryer on high for 10 minutes.
- Having an indoor/outdoor pet can increase household exposures to ticks. Consult a vet about the best tick prevention for your pet(s).
MOST IMPORTANTLY : Check everyone thoroughly for ticks, including pets, as soon as possible after being outdoors and at the end of each day.
Remove ticks promptly and properly. Click here to watch how to remove a tick.