AVOIDING THE BITEY THINGS! (A NO-PANIC GUIDE TO TICK SEASON)
Every year… the posts, the warnings, the hand-wringing… “The ticks are worse than ever!” And this year? They might actually be right. The CDC reported in April 2026 that emergency room visits for tick bites are the highest they’ve been since 2017 in most regions of the country. An estimated 31 million Americans are bitten by a tick every single year, and over 450,000 are treated annually for Lyme disease alone. The numbers are real and deserve our attention. But… they do not deserve your fear.
These days there’s no shortage of things to fret about when it comes to spending time outdoors. However, I invite and encourage you to simply take some straightforward preventative steps, let your awareness and preparation keep you safe, and go outside and play. Because the outdoors is still one of the best things that will ever happen to you, and a well-prepared hiker is not a tick’s ideal target.
WHAT ARE TICKS, EXACTLY?
Ticks are bloodsucking arachnids. (Yes, arachnids… they are in the spider family!) They can be found in every state in the U.S. and on every continent on earth except Antarctica. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors… black, brown, or reddish, ranging from the size of a grain of sand to a kernel of corn. Although they are most active in the warmer months, they can survive and bite warm-blooded mammals anytime the temperatures are above freezing.
Ticks are mostly found in grassy, wooded areas but can live in a surprisingly wide range of environments, including beaches and coastal regions. They hang out on the tops of low-growing grasses and plants, waiting patiently for a potential host to brush by so they can grab on with their front legs… like tiny, patient hitchhikers with poor social skills. Ticks cannot jump or fly, and even if you find one near your head, it most likely crawled up from a lower extremity. They’re climbers, not acrobats.
WHAT DISEASES CAN TICKS TRANSMIT?
This is the part that gets people anxious, and understandably so. But knowledge is power, and knowing what to watch for is far better than worrying vaguely about everything.
Lyme disease is the most well-known and the most common tick-borne illness in the United States. It is transmitted exclusively by blacklegged ticks, often called “deer ticks.” The bacteria that causes Lyme disease generally requires 36 to 48 hours of attachment before transmission occurs, which is why prompt tick removal is so critical. However, other diseases can be transmitted much more quickly.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is transmitted by the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick. Despite its name, it is found across much of the eastern U.S. as well. It can become serious quickly if not treated with antibiotics.
Alpha-gal syndrome is the one that has gotten significant attention recently, and for good reason. Caused by the bite of a lone star tick (the one with the distinctive white dot on its back), it triggers an allergic reaction to a sugar molecule found in most mammalian meat and dairy products. Symptoms can range from mild digestive upset to full anaphylaxis, often appearing two or more hours after eating red meat. The CDC estimates that nearly 500,000 Americans are currently living with alpha-gal syndrome, and emerging evidence suggests the real number may be significantly higher. There is currently no vaccine, no cure, and no treatment other than avoiding mammalian meat products. For someone who enjoys a good burger, this alone should be motivation enough to take tick prevention seriously.
All ticks can potentially transmit disease. Other tick-borne illnesses include Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Powassan virus, among others.
HOW TO PREVENT TICK BITES
Prevention is, without question, the best strategy, and it’s simpler than most people think.
Stay on the trail. Avoid walking along the edges of the trail where tall grasses and low vegetation are the most dense. Bushwhacking through grassy areas is essentially rolling out a welcome mat for ticks. Stay in the center of the trail whenever possible.
Dress strategically. Wearing light-colored clothing makes ticks dramatically easier to spot. Tuck your pant legs into your socks (yes, it looks ridiculous, and yes, it works). Wear long sleeves and long pants, and consider UPF-rated, tightly woven fabrics that create a physical barrier.
Treat your clothing with Permethrin. This is the single most effective thing you can do. Permethrin is an insect repellent that is applied to clothing and gear… never directly to skin. It kills ticks on contact and remains effective through several washings. You can buy pre-treated clothing or treat your own with a spray-on formula. I treat my hiking pants, shirts, socks, and boots several times a season.
Use DEET or Picaridin on exposed skin. A concentration of 20 to 30 percent DEET is effective for most situations. Higher concentrations provide longer-lasting protection but are not stronger… they just don’t need to be reapplied as frequently. Picaridin is an excellent alternative that is less irritating to some people’s skin. One important note… DEET can damage synthetic fabrics and gear, so apply it to your skin and keep it away from your clothing and equipment. (That’s what Permethrin is for.)
Consider natural alternatives mindfully. There are plenty of all-natural insect repellents that use essential oils, and they do work for some people. However, they generally need to be reapplied much more frequently than chemical options, and their effectiveness against ticks specifically is less well documented. If you choose to go the natural route, reapply often and perform extra-diligent tick checks. Please note that some insects are actually attracted to the scent of essential oils… so pick your poison carefully.
And on a related note… you may wish to avoid scented products altogether. Bugs of all kinds get excited about fragrant soaps, shampoos, and lotions. Use unscented products on your body, your hair, and your laundry, especially anything that goes into the backcountry (and could attract bigger wildlife).
HOW TO CHECK FOR TICKS
Make a habit of performing a thorough “tick check” every single time you come in from outdoors. Every time. Even if you were only out for a short walk.
Check your entire body, paying special attention to the warm, hidden areas ticks prefer… behind your ears, along your hairline, the back of your neck, your armpits, behind your knees, your waistband, and anywhere clothing fits snugly. Use a mirror or ask someone to check the areas you can’t see easily. (This is a wonderful bonding experience that nobody asked for but everyone needs.)
Check your gear, your clothing, and your pets. Ticks can hitch a ride on your pack, your jacket, or your dog and find their way to your skin hours later.
If you are extra concerned, when you get home, put all the clothing you were wearing directly into the dryer on high heat for at least 10 to 15 minutes. (High heat is the key.) Ticks require moisture to survive, and the dryer will desiccate any unseen hitchhikers quickly and effectively. Do this before you wash the clothes, as ticks can survive a cycle in the washing machine.
HOW TO REMOVE A TICK
If you find an embedded tick, don’t panic. Remember, you have time, especially with Lyme disease, where transmission generally requires 36 to 48 hours of attachment.
Forget every folk remedy you’ve ever heard. Do not use petroleum jelly, nail polish, a hot match, or any other creative technique designed to make the tick “back out.” These methods don’t work and can actually cause the tick to regurgitate its stomach contents into your skin, which is exactly the opposite of what you want.
The correct method is simple. Use fine-tipped tweezers (not your fingers) to grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist, jerk, or squeeze the body. If the mouthparts break off and remain in the skin, try to remove them with the tweezers. If you can’t, leave them alone and let the skin heal.
After removal, clean the bite area thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, soap and water, or an antiseptic. Save the tick in a sealed bag or container with the date written on it, in case you develop symptoms and your doctor wants to identify the species.
Monitor the bite area for several weeks. Watch for the often, but not always, characteristic “bull’s eye” rash associated with Lyme disease (a red ring expanding outward from the bite site), as well as any fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, or joint pain in the days and weeks following the bite. If any of these develop, seek medical attention promptly and bring the tick if you saved it.
A NOTE ABOUT FEAR
Ticks are a legitimate hazard. The diseases they transmit are real and can be very serious. But spending your time outdoors in a state of anxiety and dread is not the answer, and it is certainly not why any of us go outside in the first place.
I have hiked many miles through some of the most tick-dense environments in the eastern United States. I have pulled more ticks off myself and others than I can count. And I still walk into the woods every single day with joy, wonder, and zero hesitation… because I am prepared.
Preparation is empowerment. When you treat your clothing, dress appropriately, stay on the trail, perform your tick checks, and know how to respond if you find one, you have done everything within your power. The rest is just living your life. Joyfully, without fear.
The outdoors is still one of the most healing, transformative, and magical places you can be. A few bloodsucking arachnids with attachment issues should never keep you from it.
Treat your clothes. Tuck your pants into your socks. Check yourself thoroughly when you get home. But absolutely definitely go outside and play!
The enchanted forest is waiting…✨🌳✨
