Tick season is in full swing, and if you’re spending more time outside taking advantage of all that Long Island has to offer, it’s possible you will end up with a tick on you, your family, or your pet.
Ticks most often wait in foliage like grass, leaves, or bushes, then latch onto unsuspecting passerby, latching themselves to the skin, and ultimately putting their hosts at risk of several tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Protect Yourself from Ticks 
Because of ticks’ behavior and health-related risks, it’s always a good idea to avoid heavily wooded or bushy areas with high grass and leaves and it’s very likely you’ll encounter ticks in these areas!
Here are a few more precautions for protecting yourself:
- Use insect repellents that contain DEET or Permethrin, since they may keep ticks away.
- Wear light colored clothes, long pants, long-sleeves and closed-toe shoes.
- Thoroughly inspect your body once you come indoors after being in heavily wooded or grassy areas.
How to Remove a Tick
If you do find a tick on your body, here’s what to do, as stated by the CDC:
- Use tweezers with a fine tip to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible.
- Pull upward with a smooth motion. You don’t want to leave the mouth parts in your skin. You also do not want to squash the tick as it could still transmit disease this way.
- When the tick is removed, wash the area with soap and water.
- Call your doctor ASAP if you develop a rash, headache, pain, or fever.
Make Your Yard Tick-Free, Guaranteed
If you find a tick in your home or think you may have ticks in your yard, contact a licensed pest-control professional for an inspection and recommendations. Suburban Exterminating can work with you to develop a course of action to reduce or eliminate ticks on your property. Contact Suburban Exterminating at (631) 910-6713 or (516) 864-6900.
