Ticks do not jump or fly but instead wait for hosts on the tips of long grasses and shrubs. Ticks attach to your clothes, shoes and skin when you walk by them. To avoid these waiting ticks, make sure you practice tick bite prevention before, during and after being outdoors. Remember: this means during a hike, sports and even in your backyard.
When choosing an insect repellent, stick with primary active ingredients registered by the EPA. Concentration means the amount of active ingredient in a repellent product—higher concentrations work longer, not better.
Primary active ingredients for insect repellents registered by the EPA are:
Applying insect repellent can be easy, but it’s important to keep a few tips in mind:
Adult blacklegged ticks are about the size of a sesame seed, while nymphal ticks are about the size of a poppy seed. Check all parts of the body, with careful inspection of the hair, ears, arms, belly button, waist, legs and knees for ticks when you come in from the outdoors.