Why do ticks matter in the country?
Ticks wait on tall grass, leaf litter and brush and attach to people and animals who pass by. Some ticks carry germs that cause illnesses such as Lyme disease. Where and when ticks are active depends on your region.
Ask your state or county health department which ticks and diseases are found near you and when they are most active.
Ticks are most active in warm months in many places, but some species are active in mild winter weather too. Ask your health department for local timing.
- Tall grass and brush edges
- Wooded trails and leaf litter
- Fence lines and stone walls
- Pets and livestock that carry ticks home
How do you lower your chances of a bite?
Wear light-colored long pants tucked into socks and long sleeves when working in tick areas. Stay in the center of trails and keep mowed edges around the house and play areas. Ask your health department about repellents and clothing treatments, and read labels carefully.
Shower soon after coming indoors and put work clothes in a dryer on high heat to kill any ticks.
Treat clothing or gear only as the product label allows, and keep repellents away from eyes and open cuts. Ask a pharmacist before using products on children.
How do you do a tick check?
Check your whole body every day in tick season, especially behind the knees, in the armpits, around the waist, in the hair and behind the ears. Check children and check pets too. Ticks can be tiny, as small as a poppy seed.
Run your hands over the skin, use a mirror and ask someone to look at places you cannot see.
A tick that has been attached for a short time is less likely to pass on germs, which is why daily checks make a difference. Do them every day, not just when you remember.
- Scalp, ears and neck
- Armpits and groin
- Behind the knees
- Waistband and belt line
How do you remove a tick?
Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull upward with steady pressure. Do not twist, crush or burn it. Clean the bite and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Write down the date and where the bite happened. Do not use home remedies such as nail polish or petroleum jelly, which can make things worse.
Keep the removed tick in a sealed container or a piece of tape in case your doctor wants to see it. Do not crush it with your fingers.
What symptoms should make you call a doctor?
Watch for a spreading rash, fever, chills, headache, muscle or joint aches and fatigue in the days to weeks after a bite. A rash may look like a bullseye, but many do not. Tell your doctor about any tick bite and when it happened.
Do not wait for the rash if you feel ill. Early treatment is usually simpler, and your doctor can decide what is right.
Not everyone gets a rash. Some people have only flu-like symptoms, and symptoms can start days to weeks later. Let your doctor know about the bite even if the site looks fine.
How do you protect pets and animals?
Ask your veterinarian about tick prevention for dogs, cats and livestock. Check animals after time outdoors and keep grass short near kennels and barns. Pets can bring ticks into the house.
If you find ticks on animals, remove them carefully and wash your hands afterward.
Ask your vet when to start tick prevention for dogs and cats and what you can do for horses and cattle. Animals can bring ticks into the house on their coats.
- Ask your vet about prevention
- Check pets daily in season
- Keep grass short near kennels
- Wash hands after removing ticks
How can you tick-proof your yard?
Keep lawns mowed, trim brush and move woodpiles and bird feeders away from the house. Create a dry border of wood chips or gravel between lawn and woods. Ask your extension office what works in your area.
Remember that yard changes help but do not remove risk. Keep doing checks.
Mowing, brush control and clearing leaf litter lower tick numbers near the house, but ticks still hide in the edges, so keep checking after work in tall grass.
Key takeaways
- Know which ticks and diseases are found near you.
- Cover skin, use repellents as labeled and shower after outdoor work.
- Check your body, children and pets every day in season.
- Remove ticks with fine tweezers and note the date.
- See a doctor for rash, fever or aches after a bite.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.