Ticks are tiny, but their bites can lead to big problems, including Lyme disease and other illnesses. The good news is, avoiding tick bites doesn’t have to be complicated or scary. This guide covers the must-know tick bite prevention strategies trusted by experts for summer 2025.
Beyond personal protection, it’s equally important to focus on your environment. Learning the best way to get rid of ticks in the yard helps reduce exposure before bites happen. In high-risk areas like New Jersey, staying aware of new tick-borne disease alerts and seasonal dangers in August is critical. For complete peace of mind, combining mosquito and tick control with knowledge of how to handle tick and insect bites ensures both prevention and preparedness.
Why Worry About Ticks in Summer 2025?
Tick bites are on the rise. In the United States, about 470,000 people each year experience Lyme disease, mainly transmitted by blacklegged (deer) ticks. Ticks are spreading into new regions.
Recent studies show tick-friendly habitats now cover around 70% of parks in some cities, up from 40% just three years ago. Early summer and fall bring greater risks, but mild winters and longer warm seasons have increased tick activity almost year-round.
Fast Facts:
- Ticks can spread over a dozen diseases, many of which start with mild symptoms but may become serious.
- Most tick bites don’t transmit disease unless the tick stays attached for 24-48 hours.
- Warmer springs and milder winters have helped tick populations boom these past five years.
- Ticks are found in all U.S. states, with the northeast and Midwest seeing the highest rates of Lyme disease.
- There are almost 900 tick species. Ninety percent of these are found in the continental United States, many of which are capable of transmitting disease.
Recent Tick Bite Statistics (2025)
| Region (US) | Tick Bites (per 100,000 ER visits) | Noted Risk Level |
| Northeast | 110 | Very High |
| Midwest | 85 | Very High |
| Southeast | 35 | Moderate |
| West | 16 | Lower |
| South-Central | 10 | Lower |
7 Ways to Help Prevent Tick Bites
Preventing tick bites is essential for enjoying the outdoors safely this summer. With tick populations on the rise and expanding into new areas, knowing how to protect yourself, your family, and your pets is more important than ever.
These expert-backed tips offer practical strategies to minimize your risk of tick exposure and help you stay vigilant against these tiny, but potentially troublesome, pests.
1. Dress to Protect
Wearing the right clothes is one of the easiest ways to outsmart ticks. Choose light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and pants so ticks are easier to spot before they reach your skin. Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants, making it harder for ticks to find their way. Smooth, tightly-woven fabrics help prevent ticks from catching on.
2. Use Effective Repellents
Not all bug sprays work for ticks, so reach for products with DEET (10-30% for adults, 10-15% for kids), picaridin, or EPA-approved ingredients. Apply repellent carefully on exposed skin and clothes, always reading product instructions.
For an extra layer, pretreat boots and clothing with permethrin, which kills mosquitoes and ticks on contact and offers long-lasting protection (spray on clothing only).
3. Check, Shower, Repeat
After any time outdoors, do a head-to-toe tick check as soon as possible. Pay close attention to:
- Hair and hairline
- Inside and behind the ears
- Underarms, waist, and groin
- Behind knees and between toes
Shower within two hours (or sooner). This not only helps spot ticks, but it can also wash off ticks before they attach.
4. Keep Ticks Out of Your Yard
Ticks love shady, moist spots with tall grass and leaf litter. Help keep them away by:
- Regularly mowing lawns and clearing brush
- Removing leaf piles, tall weeds, and untreated wood
- Placing playground equipment and patios away from yard edges and trees
5. Stay on the Path
When out in nature, walk in the center of trails and avoid brushing against shrubs or grasses, where ticks wait for passing animals and people. In public parks, the highest concentrations of ticks are usually in tall grass, not on clear trails or playgrounds.
6. Protect Pets
Pets love exploring tick-prone areas and can bring these pests into your home. Protect dogs and cats with vet-recommended tick preventives, and do daily tick checks focusing on ears, under collars, between toes, and around the tail.
7. Remove Ticks the Right Way
If a tick bites, act fast! With fine-tipped tweezers, grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull steadily upward. Never twist or jerk. Clean the spot with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. If mouthparts stay behind, remove gently or ask a doctor. Most disease risk is very low if removal happens within 24 hours!
How to Check for Ticks
After spending time outdoors, knowing where ticks like to hide on the human body is crucial for early detection and prevention of tick-borne diseases. Ticks often seek out warm, moist, and less exposed areas, making certain spots particularly high-risk.
Checking these specific locations thoroughly can significantly reduce your chances of illness, as most tick-borne diseases require the tick to be attached for at least 24-48 hours:
- Hair and scalp
- Inside and behind the ears
- Armpits
- Waistband and groin
- Behind knees
- Between toes
- Under watch bands, jewelry, and pet collars
What to Watch After a Tick Bite
Not every tick bite causes disease, but stay alert.
See a doctor promptly if:
- A rash appears, especially a bullseye pattern
- Flu-like symptoms, joint pain, or fever develop in the following days or weeks
Some doctors may prescribe a single dose of antibiotics to help prevent Lyme if the tick bite is caught early in a high-risk area.
Got Ticks? No Problem!
As summer heats up, so does tick activity, making it super important to know how to stay safe from these tiny pests.
Fortunately, we shared easy-to-follow tips that can help protect you, your family, and your furry friends. From choosing the right clothes and using effective repellents to checking yourself thoroughly after outdoor fun, these simple steps can make a big difference in preventing tick bites and the illnesses they can carry, like Lyme disease.
Beyond personal precautions, keeping your yard tidy by mowing regularly and removing leaf litter can also help keep ticks at bay.
And if a tick does bite, don’t panic! There’s a right way to remove them, and knowing what symptoms to watch for afterward is key. By following these tips, you can enjoy all the best parts of summer with peace of mind, knowing you’ve taken the necessary steps to stay tick-free.
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