Tick Season is Here!

Did you know that the Iowa tick season starts in April? Ticks are common throughout the summer and often become less of a problem after cooler weather arrives. Ticks come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes. Some carry illness and disease so it’s important to check pets and people for ticks after being outside.

How to reduce tick exposure:

• Avoid areas with high grass or leaf litter.
• Walk in the center of trails.
• Wear insect repellent that contains 20% DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin.
• Wear permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
• Treat pets for ticks. Dogs are very susceptible to ticks and can bring ticks into your home. Use preventative medication, collars, sprays or shampoos and check them frequently. 
• Conduct a full-body check using a mirror to view all parts of your body upon going inside from outdoors.
• Shower or bathe in hot water as soon as possible.
• Ticks can stay on your clothes or gear. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes after you come indoors. 

How to remove a tick:

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
• Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick; this can cause the tick’s mouth parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth parts with clean tweezers.
• After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and warm water.
• Dispose of the tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers.

Additional information & sources:

• https://hhs.iowa.gov/health-prevention/disease-information/tick-and-mosquito-borne-diseases 
• https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2026/2026-cdc-data-show-weekly-er-visits-for-tick-bites-higher-than-usual.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/prevention/index.html
• https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/ticks