TICK PREVENTION & SAFETY

BEFORE YOU GO​

• Pre-treat your gear and clothing

  • ​Consider spraying your hiking clothes, socks, shoes, backpack, and even your tent with permethrin (not to be confused with DEET). I like to go all-natural when I can, but Lyme disease is no joke, and I’ve found nothing works better than this.

  • Apply at least 24 hours before your trip so everything can dry fully.

  • Always apply outdoors in a well-ventilated space.

  • The treatment typically lasts through several washes.

• Pack tick protection supplies

  • ​Bring insect repellent—choose what you’re comfortable with: 

  • DEET (20–30%) or Picaridin for strong, proven protection

  •  Natural sprays (like oil of lemon eucalyptus) if preferred—just know they may need more frequent reapplication

• Consider bringing 200 mg of doxycycline (talk with your physician)

In high-risk areas, a single 200 mg dose of doxycycline taken within 72 hours of a tick bite has been shown to reduce the risk of Lyme disease by up to 87%. You can read more about this approach on the CDC site.

• Dress appropriately

  • ​Wear light-colored clothing to help spot ticks easily

  • Tuck pants into socks or boots to keep ticks from crawling up

  • Long sleeves and a wide-brim hat can add extra protection

WHILE HIKING OR CAMPING

• Tick Prevention for Outdoor Activity​​​

  • S​tay on marked trails and walk in the center to avoid brushing against tall grasses or brush

  • ​​Avoid sitting directly on the ground, in grass, or on logs where ticks like to wait

  • ​​Be mindful of where you place your backpack—try not to set it in tall grass or brush

  • If hiking with a dog, check them daily—especially around ears, paws, and belly. Even with prevention, ticks can sneak through

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AFTER HIKING

• Do a full tick check

  • Check your body, especially behind the knees, underarms, waistband, ears, and along the scalp

  • Shower within two hours of returning indoors—it can help wash off ticks that haven’t yet attached

  • Check your pets, backpack, and sleeping area for ticks

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• If you find a tick

  • Remove it carefully. Tweezers are ideal, but if needed, fingernails work too. Grasp it close to the skin and pull straight out—no twisting

  • Clean the area well and monitor for symptoms. A small red bump right away doesn’t mean Lyme, it can be a normal skin reaction to any tick bite

  • Try to identify the tick. Take a photo and use AI if helpful (saving ticks is no longer recommended)

  • Not all tick bites transmit Lyme, and not all ticks carry it. There are other tick Bourne illnesses as well. If you develop fever, fatigue, rash (not all are the classic bulls eye appearance), joint pain, or other unusual symptoms in the days or weeks afterward, tell your doctor you were in a tick-prone area

  • Talk with your doctor if Doxycycline prophylaxis is right for you. 

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Ticks are tiny—especially in early summer when the smallest ones (nymphs) are most active and hardest to see. But with awareness and a few simple habits, you can take precautions and still enjoy the magic of the outdoors.

This is not medical advice. Always consult your physician, especially if you’ve been bitten.