Tick Talk: What I’ve Learned About These Tiny Terrors

Tick Talk: What I’ve Learned About These Tiny Terrors

Over the weekend, as usual when the nice weather hits, we started prepping for next winter by cutting wood. But with the sunshine also comes... ticks!

Last night, I found myself pulling a tick out of the back of my husband's knee (or as he calls it, his "knee pit") with my trusty tick key. It got me thinking about everything I’ve learned about ticks over the years—and how important it is to share this info.

🪱 Tick Tip: If you find a tick on yourself or someone else, it’s a good idea to remove it carefully, date it, and store it in a sealed bag or container in the freezer. Why? If symptoms show up later, the tick itself can be tested. Sometimes ticks carry infections like Lyme disease, but the person may not immediately test positive. Testing the tick can give you a head start if something develops down the road.

🛠️ Get yourself a tick key! It’s worth its weight in gold. I keep mine on my keychain so it’s always handy. I’ve found it consistently pulls the entire tick out—including the head. But if the head does happen to get left behind, don’t panic. While it can cause local irritation, your body will usually expel it naturally over time, just like a splinter.

🌿 Prevention matters: If you're heading into long grass, wooded areas, or even cleared trails, wear long sleeves and pants—and tuck your pant legs into your socks. It’s a simple trick that helps keep ticks from crawling up your legs.

And don’t forget to check yourself, your kids, and your pets when you come in. The earlier you find a tick, the better.

Stay safe, be tick smart, and enjoy the sunshine!