If you’ve found a tick, don’t panic!

We’ve created this page to be a one-stop resource to help you walk through the next steps of removing, identifying, and testing a tick as well as keeping an eye out for signs and symptoms of Lyme disease and, if needed, seeking medical assistance.

How to Remove a Tick Safely

• Gather proper tick removal tools. ILC recommends using pointed tweezers, TickKey, or TickEase. DON’T use chemicals or heat (such as matches, alcohol, nail polish, petroleum jelly).
• Read through our tick removal steps or watch these video demonstrations for how to remove the tick:

TickEncounter (1 minute long)

University of Manitoba (2 minutes long)

Know What Kind of Tick Bit You

• Learn about ticks in Indiana; only the blacklegged tick (deer tick) carries Lyme disease.
• TickEncounter Resource Center Tick Spotters Program (“Know your tick, know your risk”): They provide free tick identification by email, usually within 24 hours, based on a quick photo of the tick that you upload on their website.
• Download and print our Ticks of Indiana wallet card for easy reference.

Save the Tick and Get It Tested

• If you’re wondering if you should or should not test, check out our tick testing page for more information about the tick testing debate.
• There are several reputable tick testing labs, and ILC recommends the following labs: Tick Report and IGeneX.

Watch for Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease

• Read through our list of early signs and symptoms of infection.
• Download our free printable PDF with early signs as a resource to keep on hand.

Seek Medical Attention and Be Your Own Advocate

• Even if you do not find a tick in your bodily checks, that does not mean that there are none attached. Adult hard ticks are easier to spot and feel than smaller, nymphal ticks – which are about the size of a poppy seed.
• Knowing the early signs and symptoms of a tick bite can be very important to get timely treatment before the infection has a chance to gain a foothold in your system.
• Learn how Lyme disease is diagnosed.
• Review chronic or persistent Lyme symptoms in case of a delayed diagnosis.
• Check out these resources on Lyme disease.