Ticks aren’t just creepy, they’re dangerous. These resilient pests can cause diseases like Borrelia, Lyme Disease, and more. With warm weather just around the corner in NYC, you’re more likely to find ticks hitching rides behind your ears or in your hairline. It’s important to know where to find them on your body and how to dispose of them to prevent disease.

What kind of ticks are there in New York?

The three most common ticks in New York include:

• The deer tick or black-egged ticks. These pests most commonly reside in the Staten Island area.
• The American dog tick. Unfortunately, these ticks can be found in all five boroughs of NYC.
• The lone star tick can be found in both Staten Island in the Bronx.

When are ticks most active?

Unfortunately, every season seems to be tick season in NYC. These pesky pests are active at least 3 of the four seasons. However, they thrive in warmer weather. Many ticks die off in the winter, but the resilient few will stick around for the entire year! This is why it’s important to know how to remove a tick from your body and dispose of them properly.

How do I remove and dispose of a tick?

After spending time outside in wooded or grassy areas, make sure you check yourself for ticks when you get home. Most ticks will need to be on your skin for about 24 hours to cause disease. This is why it’s crucial you check your body ASAP. The most common places for ticks to hitch a ride on your body are:

• Joint areas
• The belly button
• Between your legs
• In the hairline
• Around your waist
• Any other folds in the skin

If you’ve found a tick on your body and it’s stuck to your skin, follow these steps to properly remove and dispose of it:

1. Use tweezers to grab the tick at its head. This is the point where the tick is closest to your skin. It’s crucial that you don’t grab the body of the tick because that may cause the mouth part to break off and remain in your skin. Avoid infection by grabbing its head!
2. Slowly and gently pull up on the tick.
3. Don’t use your hands or squash the tick.
4. Once the tick is off your skin, dispose of it by putting it in a sealed bag or container. Then, wrap it tightly in tape and throw it out or flush it down the toilet.
5. Wash any skin that the tick touched with soap and water or even rubbing alcohol.

Make sure you get in touch with a medical professional if you experience a rash, fever, nausea, or joint pain after finding a tick on your body. If you have a tick infestation in your business, get in touch with Assured Environments right away. We can rid your space of ticks and prevent them from coming back in the future. Contact Assured today!