So here we were, in the rain, minding our own business…

Yes, yes; I know. There is no “fun” where ticks are concerned. Frankly, anything that sucks blood out of my body without my permission (which would be denied, by the way) is free to go suck something else. However, I do like to spend lots of time outside, and that means tick exposure. Sometimes it means lots and lots of tick exposure. Apparently ticks like living off the beaten path as much as we do. Go figure.

Here at the House of Twine we try to lessen our exposure to the extent that we can. Times of year when ticks are about as common as blades of grass or rocks on the ground we tend to avoid heavily forested areas and areas of tall grass. Instead we play at local parks, in the mowed parts of our property here at home, and other less wild destinations. But, let’s be honest– sometimes you just want a good creek-romp, which means facing down those nasty little critters.

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Too, at our house there’s lots of variety in tick-related sentiment. There’s Mr. T who sees ticks as a minor annoyance. “Oh, look– one hitched a ride on my neck,” he affectionately exclaimed after a recent outing to check on some baby corn plants and explore a creek and its surrounds. He nonchalantly plucked it off, rolled down the window, and tossed it out the window. No worries. There’s Lorelei. I don’t know if she’s made of Permethrin, has some sort of unspoken arrangement with the Tick King in which she helps him and his brethren find (much tastier) me and Ellie in exchange for immunity, or some sort of invisibility armor, but the kid never gets ticks. Stinker. There’s Ellie. And me. Who tick-check like our lives depend on it and shudder with terror every time we feel the slightest tickle or itch.

Because we live on a farm, complete with the requisite derelict buildings, ambient wildlife (read: tick factories), prairie grasses, and fields that stretch to every horizon, tick safety is just part of life. Fortunately, (unfortunately??) there are probably ticks where you live, too. Adaptable bastards. So I’d love to share some of the best information I’ve gathered in this on-going battle. Most of it is common sense, but hopefully you’ll learn some new and useful information as well. At any rate, it can function as a reassurance that you are not alone should you find a tick crawling up your living room wall, creeping on your shoulder, or hitching a ride on one of your pets.

Tip #1: Know who you can trust. Not all websites are created equal. For example, I would trust the CDC over, say, getdattickoffame.com any day of the week. Having accurate and reliable information is key in knowing how to keep yourself and your family safe when it comes to ticks. Doctors, medical websites like that of the Mayo Clinic or CDC, and university extension service pages are informational powerhouses that can teach you what you need to know to lessen your and your family’s risk.

Tip #2: Not all ticks are created equal. Not all ticks are known transmitters for the same diseases. This is one great reason to be aware of the tick species you are likely to encounter, and to save ticks if you find they have attached. University extension programs often have excellent information for their pertinent geographical area. For example, here’s some information from Purdue on Indiana common tick species and their associated risks.

Tip #3: Dress for success. This doesn’t mean a navy blazer or pantsuit; and, men, ticks don’t care about the size of your cufflinks. This means 1) wear light colored clothing to increase the chance that you will see a tick before it finds your tender, waiting skin, and 2) tuck, tuck, tuck. Yes, I know you will look like a fashion disaster straight out of the 80s, but tuck pants into socks, shirt into pants, and keep it all of the long variety. If it was good enough for MC Hammer, it’s good enough for you. You are creating a fortress and minimizing handy-dandy tick entrances.

Tip #4: Send them down the drain. What you do when you come home from your outdoor sojourn makes a big difference. At our house we change out of our clothes as soon as we get in. We then take those clothes and hang them on hooks in the garage right outside the door. This helps make sure that any buddies who may have hitched a ride continue their happy life in the great outdoors and don’t come crawling on us when they get the munchies. Then we get in the shower. Mr. T is so tick-zen that he often skips this step, but you had better believe that the girls and I hop in the shower without missing a beat. I take a quick look in the mirror before getting in to check any areas that I can’t see without help. In the shower I rinse all over, also using my fingers to feel for any irregularities that could be a tick. I feel the entirety of my scalp. I do the same for Ellie and Lorelei. Ticks like warm, dark places, so we are sure to check belly buttons, ears, hair, armpits, and inner thighs with extra care. Then, assuming the dryer is free, we pop our clothes in for a dry on hot. The longer the better, honestly; though I’ve read varying accounts of how long it takes to neutralize the enemy with heat. CDC says an hour. I trust them.

Tip #5: No Tick Left Behind: casually check likely spots for ticks daily. Even if you have only spent time in a low-tick area, or spent the whole day indoors. The longer a tick remains attached, the more likely it is to transmit whatever nasties it is carrying to you. I like to check the girls and myself (again, casually: I don’t want Ellie scarred for life or anything) before bed each night. If you find a tick that has attached, slow is best. You want to remove the mouth parts and not injure the tick as you are pulling her out. We have something called a tick key that is pretty handy and can fit on a key ring. We keep ours in the car in a bag with other supplies like first aid ointment and band-aids so it is always handy. Tweezers can also be effective. After the tick is out, wash and apply antiseptic to the area. You can circle the area with a pen, or just remember where it was in case a rash or any other signs of infection 0ccur in the days following the bite. If you notice anything unusual at the site, or start to feel ill in the days following, make sure to see a doctor. And bring along your little friend– it can help them pinpoint what might be wrong and provide important information about the spread of disease.

Tip #6: Don’t freak out. Ticks are unpleasant, but don’t let them stop you from getting out and enjoying nature. Here’s to many great adventures this tick season– people only.