Be prepared to correctly remove a tick with a complete tick removal kit!

TIP: Assemble your tick removal kit before you venture out into a tick habitat.

This includes a proper tick removal tool (see list below), bandage, alcohol pad, and small zip close baggie to save the tick.

Pointed tweezers (or a Tick Key)

Proper tick removal tools include fine pointed tweezers (not a blunt end), The Original TickKey, or TickEase (works for dogs and humans). A Tick Key is specifically designed to remove ticks from both humans and pets and can be easily attached to your key ring or any other similar fastener on your backpack or other gear.

Alcohol Wipes

These are easy to carry with you no matter where you are, and will be used to disinfect the bite area after removing the tick.

Ziploc Bag

You will use the Ziploc bag to keep and preserve the tick should you want to send it out for testing at a lab.

ILC’s Tick ID Card

Download and print out our free Tick ID Card to place in your tick kit, wallet, backpack, glove compartment, first aid kit, or wherever it will be handy in the event of a tick bite.

Optional kit item: Magnifying Glass

Use this to better view the tick and ensure that you are pinching the tick as close to the skin as possible with the tweezers. You might also consider a reading magnifying glass that has an LED light for an even clearer view.

If you would like to receive a complete tick removal kit from ILC, we are happy to send you one for free. We will provide one tick removal kit per household; duplicate requests for the same household will be declined.

Paying attention to how ticks move and attach to the skin will give you a huge advantage when it comes to avoiding a tick bite. Consider how a tick attaches to the skin in the first place. All ticks crawl UP starting at the ground (if a nymph or larva) or at knee high (adults) and are looking for a “pinch” point to attach- underwear line, pant line, bra line, hair line, watch band, and folds in the skin like the knee/groin or under the arm.

So here’s an effective and doable plan to help you outsmart ticks by considering the shoes and clothing you wear before going outdoors into tick habitat. These ideas take a little planning and some ideas may not be fashionable, but these steps are important in keeping ticks away from the skin where they can crawl up and attach.

What to Wear for Potential Tick Exposure:

Image Courtesy of Tick Encounter

• Closed toed shoes vs sandals/flip-flops/crocs
• Light-colored clothing, to more easily spot ticks
• If at all possible, wear long pants
• Tuck pants into socks
• Tuck shirt into pants/shorts, especially when adult ticks are active
• Put long hair into a ponytail
• Wear a cap/hat
• Treat shoes/socks/pants/shirts/gear with permethrin

Wear Permethrin-Treated Clothing:

Permethrin is an extremely effective and safe man-made chemical repellent that can be applied to clothing, footwear, and gear (such as backpacks, sleeping bag liners and tents) to repel and even kill ticks seconds after contact.

It’s similar to the natural extracts from the chrysanthemum flower which is toxic to ticks. Research conducted by the CDC and the University of Rhode Island (URI) shows clothing treated with permethrin has strong toxic effects on ticks, including the blacklegged tick which carries Lyme disease.

How Effective and Safe is Permethrin?

If you want to take one step to greatly decrease your chance of a tick bite, wear permethrin-treated shoes/socks. A University of Rhode Island study showed that people wearing permethrin-treated shoes and socks are 73.6 times less likely to be bitten by a tick than those without treated footwear.

Treating your pants/shorts/shirts only adds to your level of protection. So, wearing permethrin-treated clothing is an extremely effective strategy against tick bites as it repels ticks. And just as important, permethrin is considered extremely safe for people.

Image Courtesy of TERC

How Do I Get Permethrin-Treated Clothing/Gear?

You may apply clothing/shoes/socks/gear with permethrin yourself, mail in your clothing to be treated with permethrin or purchase pre-treated clothing or gear.

To learn more about the process of obtaining permethrin-treated clothing and gear, click the button below to go to the next action step.

Permethrin is an extremely effective and safe chemical repellent that can be applied to outerwear, footwear, and gear (such as backpacks and tents) to keep ticks away, or even kill the bugs moments after contact. Learn more about permethrin.

Treated or tick-repellent clothing is not just for avid hikers, backpackers, or campers, but anyone who is in or around a possible tick habitat, such as runners, cyclists, golfers, gardeners, landscapers, and children!

There are three ways to obtain permethrin-treated clothing and gear. You may treat clothing/ shoes/socks/gear with permethrin yourself, purchase clothing/gear pre-treated with permethrin, or mail in your clothing to be treated with permethrin.

Currently, Insect Shield is the only certified company providing technology that converts clothing and gear into effective, long-lasting and convenient insect protection. Indiana Lyme Connect is an affiliate of Insect Shield. First time customers can use code INDIANALYME to get 15% off their first purchase, and ILC will receive 10% back from your purchase to support our organization (at no cost to you) if you use our link to shop at Insect Shield.

Three Ways To Get Tick-Repellent Clothing and Gear

You can treat your own clothes with permethrin, at home, using a spray. The sprayed-on permethrin products (like Sawyer, Ben’s, Insect Shield, and Ranger Ready) last about a month or 6 washes before needing re-applying to the clothing or gear.

Note that the only way to get footwear and much of your gear permethrin treated is through this DIY process.

When spraying your clothing or gear, there are a few basic application guidelines you should follow:

• Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for applying and achieving maximum effectiveness on the product label.
• Always saturate your clothing and gear as well as apply to both the inside and outside of shorts and pants for effectiveness.
• Never apply permethrin to skin, because it can cause irritation and it is not as long lasting and effective against ticks on skin as it is when bonded to fabric.
• Always apply permethrin in a well-ventilated area (preferably outdoors) that is protected from the wind to lessen your chances of accidentally breathing or ingesting the substance while spraying.
• Never apply permethrin to any item of clothing while you are wearing it. Always allow your clothes or gear to completely dry before using.
• Never allow cats near permethrin-treated clothing until it is completely dry.
• Never spray gear in an area that is close to water sources or flowers, because wet permethrin is extremely toxic to both aquatic life and beneficial insects (e.g. bees).

Finally, remember to apply permethrin to anything that a tick can attach itself to, including:

• Footwear
• Socks
• Pants/shorts
• Headwear – hats (outside only), bandanas, etc.
• Tents
• Backpacks
• Sleeping bags (and sleeping bag liners)
• Any other fabric-made gear

A good rule of thumb is to treat anything that could possibly be connected to the ground, because a tick’s favorite habitat is in leaf litter and in grass or brush that is up to three feet tall.

Ticks do not fly, leap, or fall from trees. So, it is equally important to treat any item that actually sits directly on the ground (e.g. tents and sleeping bags), as well as items that could catch ticks when you touch tall grass or other brush in passing. If a tick can attach to it or climb on it, then it should be treated with permethrin.

One way to acquire factory-treated clothing is by mailing in pieces from your own wardrobe to Insect Shield. The company will then apply permethrin to each article of clothing, and mail them back to you. This process takes around two weeks to complete and cannot be rushed.

There are two advantages to factory-treated clothing over home treatment.

First, when clothing is treated with permethrin in a factory setting, the substance will remain active for far longer than a DIY treatment – approximately 70 detergent washings versus 4-6 washings.

The reason for this difference lies in the microencapsulation techniques that companies employ in treating clothing. These methods completely saturate the fabric with permethrin and increase its effective lifespan. The factory permethrin formulation also allows companies to treat hats and bandanas for usage by consumers, because the substance will not run off when a person perspires as readily as with a home treated hat or bandana.

The second advantage is that, since the factory application process also involves dipping techniques, the permethrin is more evenly distributed on the clothing. And, more even distribution means better protection against ticks.

There are two pricing options for mailing in your clothes to Insect Shield: price per piece or bulk mailing through a prepaid Easy Pack. Check the Insect Shield website for pricing rates. Remember at checkout to use INDIANALYME for 15% off your 1st order.

When mailing in your clothing, there are a few requirements and restrictions that must be followed:

• Wash the garment(s) prior to mailing – even if the clothing is brand new.
• Only send in clothing that is cut and sewn. Insect Shield will not treat loose fabric.
• No underwear.
• Dry Clean Only clothing cannot be treated.
• Insect Shield cannot be applied to waterproof or water resistant clothing.
• Line-dry only clothing may be unsuitable for treatment.
• Do Not Tumble Dry clothing may be unsuitable for treatment.

While this tick-repellent clothing has an upfront cost, if you are going to be enjoying the outdoors frequently in the many months when ticks are active, the extra protection far outweighs the costs of a tick-borne illness. Additionally, both the mail-in and purchase tick repellent options end up being far more convenient and cost effective long term than the DIY method.

What Skin Repellents are Recommended for Ticks?

Perhaps the first thing people think of to protect themselves from mosquitoes and ticks is applying an insect skin repellent.

After reviewing both the effectiveness and safety of products, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the following EPA registered products to ward off insect bites.

Different products have different percentages needed to provide effectiveness as well as different safety warnings and instructions for use. Additionally, some of the products are odorless and safe on plastics, Gore Tex materials, etc.

• DEET* as found in Off!, Sawyer and Cutter. According to the CDC, studies have shown that DEET’s effective time plateaus at about 50% concentration – some sources say it levels off 30%. So, buying a skin repellent with a 60% concentration of DEET will not necessarily translate to a significant increase in how long the product is effective compared to a 30% concentration product.
• PICARIDIN* as found in Cutter Advanced and Sawyer Picaridin
• OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS* as found in Botanicals, Repel and Off!
• IR3535* as found in Skin So Soft Guard Plus, and SkinSmart

For more information and the actual product names for repellents that contain these and other active ingredients, you can use the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Find the Repellent that is Right for You search tool as well as the National Pesticide Information Center Choosing & Using Insect Repellents.

*None of the brands stated on this page are formally endorsed by Indiana Lyme Connect, but are simply provided as examples of the types of products discussed on the site.

Are Skin Repellents Effective Against Ticks?

A 2024 Consumer Report study found that overall, the brands tested which used EPA approved products offered some hours of protection against ticks.

Of the EPA approved products, DEET has shown to be the most effective at repelling ticks, according to Durland Fish, professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health and Dr. Tom Mather, professor of Public Health Entomology at the University of Rhode Island and Director of URI’s Tick Encounter Resource Center.

But according to Dr. Thomas Mather, these products should not be used as a primary tick prevention strategy. While these products are effective against mosquitoes, the chemicals seem to work differently on a tick vs mosquitoes and other insects.

According to Dr. Mather, DEET “burns the feet of ticks, and they fall off because their feet are burning,’ as opposed to interfering with the tick’s ability to find its prey the way DEET affects mosquitoes. What’s more, as soon as the product is dried, it doesn’t burn as much, so it really doesn’t last very long for ticks.”

Furthermore, Dr. Thomas Mather, states that there are many inconsistencies between lab data in regards to the effectiveness of skin repellents against ticks. He goes on to state: “‘It’s reasonable to be somewhat wary of claims about the number of hours of protection a repellent will offer against ticks”…because in tests “ticks very rarely do what you want them to do.’“

In general, most experts agree that skin repellents containing DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and picaridin can help protect you against ticks. However, regardless of which skin repellent you choose to use, follow manufacturer labels including reapplication as directed.

Furthermore, with the known potential devastating effects of tick-borne illnesses and doubt as to the actual fullness of protection from EPA approved products for ticks, ILC recommends that skin repellents be just part of your tick prevention strategy. Wearing tick repellent clothing (permethrin) is a proven and very effective strategy against ticks. See other personal protection strategies.

Where Do Ticks Live?

Despite the frequency of both human and dog encounters with ticks, most people know very little about where ticks live. Knowing basic information about where ticks live can reduce one’s risk of a tick bite while enjoying the great outdoors.

Ticks thrive in moist and humid habitats with moist woodlands and in vegetation around the forest edges and grassy fields. It is here where they find their hosts to feed including deer, rabbits, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, lizards, and birds. When ticks are in their nymph and larva stage, they are mostly encountered under leaf litter. However, when they are adults, they are more likely to be encountered “questing” on blades of tall grass or bushes.

Surprisingly, ticks are not just a problem when playing or living in the woods, but rather ticks can be found in urban and suburban parks and even one’s own backyard. In fact, tick populations are not only multiplying across the United States, but are increasingly found in both cities and in coastal areas with grasses and woods near the beaches and dunes. Ticks are now simply in more places.

Typical Blacklegged Tick Habitats

Damp, wooded areas where there is a lot of leaf litter (less so for the American dog tick)

In and around woodpiles and stone walls where mice and other small mammals live

In vegetation next to forest trails or where forested areas meet the lawn

Grassy fields/brush

Along vegetation around water sources such as ponds, streams, and ocean

Areas around power lines that cut through the woods

In and around camp sites

Urban and suburban yards with ground cover, tall grass, wood piles, water source, and woods

Tall grass and other vegetation next to the highway or at rest stops (such as pet exercise areas)

Grasses in dunes

How Do Ticks Find Hosts?

Remember, ticks do not fly, leap, or fall from the sky. THEY CRAWL UP!

Ticks detect their hosts in a wide variety of ways, including body odors, heat, moisture and vibrations. Some species of ticks even hunt for hosts by simply seeing or recognizing shadows of potential hosts that are approaching.

But for our purposes of preventing ticks which hang out in Indiana, it’s important to understand how you can encounter both a nymph and an adult tick.

For nymph stage ticks, they are close to the ground. So they typically attach to their host from the foot up. These nymphs crawl UP to the scalp by finding their way from the shoe, to the sock, and up the leg under shorts/pants. Nymphs being at ground level make children and pets especially susceptible to a bite.

On the other hand, adult ticks typically latch on about knee level as hosts pass by. Hosts make contact with vegetation along pathways that the ticks have staked out as high traffic areas – where the ticks are waiting in a position called “questing”. Questing is a position where the tick holds onto vegetation with its back legs and stretches out its front legs to grab a passing host. As ticks don’t jump or fly, a host has to actually brush against the “questing” tick in order for the tick to hitch a ride on people or pets. This is the primary method used by blacklegged (or “deer”) ticks which are the carrier of Lyme disease.

How fast can a tick crawl up? Lickety-split! Nymph and adult stage ticks can crawl up your foot, up your leg and under your shirt in just a few minutes!

Ticks Size and Appearance

All ticks go through a life cycle which changes their SIZE and APPEARANCE.

All ticks come in small, medium and large sizes at different stages in their life cycle.

People and animals can encounter ticks at each of these stages:

• The larval stage (small size like grains of sand)
• The nymph stage (medium size like poppy seeds)
• The adult stage (large size like apple seeds)

Encounters with both the nymph and adult stages can transmit disease.
To survive, ticks must eat blood at every stage. It’s in the early larva and nymph stages during some of these blood meals from rodents like mice and chipmunks that ticks become infected. Infected nymphs and adult ticks then can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease to other animals and people.

Why should I particularly pay special attention to the blacklegged nymph ticks?
While both nymphs and adult blacklegged ticks can carry Lyme disease as well as other pathogens, the majority of people contracting Lyme disease come from the Lyme carrying nymph ticks. These ticks are almost invisible to the naked eye (the size of a poppy seed). Being rarely detected until it has attached and engorged, this increases the transmission of Lyme and other associated diseases to the human host. Interesting is that although adult male ticks do carry Lyme disease, they are basically not a threat to humans as these ticks quickly fall off after a bite. This means that one should especially pay attention to the bite of a female adult deer tick. So how small is a nymph blacklegged tick? The answer helps explain why less than 50% of those diagnosed with Lyme disease ever recall a tick bite! Check out this poppy seed bagel with REAL black legged nymph ticks (black) and poppy seeds (gray). These nymphs are THIS SMALL!

Image courtesy of Indiana Lyme Connect

So how small is a nymph blacklegged tick? The answer helps explain why less than 50% of those diagnosed with Lyme disease ever recall a tick bite!

Check out this poppy seed bagel with REAL black legged nymph ticks (black) and poppy seeds (gray). These nymphs are THIS SMALL!

So what time of year will I encounter the different stages of ticks?
In general, late spring to late summer is nymph season for the blacklegged tick. As adult blacklegged ticks can survive even in zero degrees and become active when it’s just above freezing and after a snow thaw, tick preventive measures are needed year round. On the other hand, the American dog and lone star ticks are generally inactive in the fall and winter.

This chart appears in “Watch Out For Forest Hitchhikers – Ticks!” which shows the various ticks’ life cycles by the month they generally appear.

Image Courtesy of Forest Hitchhiker

Check out another helpful resource of tick activity and ticks’ various stages throughout the year around the U.S.: Tick Encounter Resource Center’s interactive field guide map

For more information about Indiana ticks, click here.

If you’ve found a tick, don’t panic!