05/19/2026
Be cautious, check for ticks.
I was outside today walking around the house in short grass and later I found 2 ticks on me.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome/in-depth/tick-species/art-20546861
Preventing tick bites
Your body heat, breath, motion and scent are what ticks use to find you. Ticks also use a range of strategies to find prey. Some tend to climb tall grass or other vegetation, while others wait in dead logs or leaf litter.
Suggestions on how to avoid tick bites include:
Wear light-colored clothing. Plan to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into light-colored socks. It can help you see any ticks before they make it to your skin.
Use a tick repellent. Experts suggest treating your clothing, camping gear and skin with repellents designed for each use.
Examples of chemicals that may be in tick repellents are N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide — also called DEET — permethrin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) and picaridin. Check the directions on each product. Some can't be used on the skin or clothing. Don't use certain products on children younger than age 3.
Check for ticks right away after going back indoors. Take a shower or bath and check for ticks right after you get home. Check in hair and at the hairline, around the ears, under the arms, between the legs, and on the backs of the knees. Check at the waistband of pants and the cuffs of socks.
Make sure pets are tick-free. Pets can get sick from the bacteria and parasites ticks spread. So make sure your pet is treated to prevent tick bites. And check for ticks on any pets that go outside.
Wash clothes in hot water and dry on the high setting. Heat can help get rid of ticks that might still be on your clothes.
If you find a tick, remove it with tweezers or something similar. Experts say not to burn the tick or coat it with anything. Remove the tick by putting a pair of tweezers as close as possible to where the tick is attached to your skin. Pull on the tick with steady pressure. Then wash the area with soap and water, or with rubbing alcohol.
Take a picture of the tick, or if you can safely do it, save the tick so your healthcare team can identify the tick species. That can help with a diagnosis if you start to feel sick.
If you find a tick, don't panic.
Getting a tick off as quickly as possible can help lower the chance that you'll get a disease spread by ticks.
Remove it, save it and contact your healthcare professional if you are in an area with a high rate of Lyme disease. Areas in the U.S. with higher rates of Lyme disease include the Northeast, Minnesota, Wisconsin and areas around Lake Michigan.
See your healthcare team if you notice a rash, fever, extreme tiredness, or joint swelling and pain within 30 days of the tick bite.
Learn about different tick species and some of the diseases they may carry.
