Preventing Tick Bites

Before Going Outdoors

• Use EPA-registered repellents: DEET (20–30%), picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) are all effective. Apply to exposed skin and clothing per label directions.
• Treat clothing and gear with permethrin: Permethrin bonds to fabric fibers and remains effective through multiple washes. Pre-treated clothing is also commercially available.
• Dress protectively: Long sleeves, long pants, light-colored clothing (ticks are easier to spot), and tuck pants into socks when in wooded or brushy areas.

While Outdoors

• Stay on the center of trails and avoid brushing against vegetation where ticks quest
• Avoid sitting directly on the ground or logs in wooded areas
• Keep children close in heavy brush and tall grass
• Keep dogs on leash and away from dense vegetation

After Coming Inside

• Tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes first — this kills any ticks on clothing before washing (ticks can survive washing)
• Shower within 2 hours — reduces tick bite risk and enables a full-body check
• Perform a thorough tick check — see our Tick Check guide

Yard and Home Management

• Keep grass mowed short and remove leaf litter — ticks thrive in moist, shaded environments
• Place a 3-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between your lawn and wooded areas
• Keep playground equipment and frequently used areas away from yard edges and trees
• Discourage deer with appropriate fencing or plant choices
• Ask about targeted acaricide treatments for your yard — most effective in spring and fall