Ticks in summer: how to avoid bites and remove a tick safely

Ticks are small, blood-feeding parasites found in long grass, woodland, heathland and overgrown gardens. Most bites are harmless, but some ticks carry Lyme disease, so it is worth knowing how to avoid them, how to check for them and how to take one off safely.

01What ticks are

Ticks are arachnids, related to spiders and mites rather than insects. Unfed, they can be as small as a poppy seed, and they swell to the size of a small pea after feeding. They do not jump or fly. Instead they climb grass stems and low plants and hold out their front legs, ready to grab on to anything that passes, then crawl to a warm, sheltered spot on the skin to feed.

They are found wherever there is cover and animals to feed on: woodland, moorland, grassland, parks and gardens with long grass or dense planting, especially where deer, foxes, hedgehogs or rodents pass through.

02Lyme disease and other risks

Lyme disease is the main tick-borne illness in the UK. It is caused by bacteria carried by some ticks, and only a small proportion of bites lead to infection, but the risk rises the longer an infected tick stays attached. That is why prompt removal matters.

The best-known sign is a circular red rash around the bite, sometimes with a clearer centre like a bullseye, which can appear days or weeks later. Some people never get the rash but develop flu-like symptoms instead, such as a high temperature, tiredness, headache and aching muscles or joints. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics, and it is easier to treat when it is caught early.

For pets, ticks can cause skin irritation and infection where they attach, and they can pass on diseases to dogs. Ask your vet about tick prevention, especially if your dog walks in woodland, heath or long grass.

03How to avoid tick bites

• Stick to paths where you can, and avoid brushing through long grass and bracken.
• Cover up. Wear long sleeves and long trousers tucked into your socks. Light colours make ticks easier to spot.
• Use an insect repellent on exposed skin, such as one containing DEET, following the instructions on the label.
• Check yourself after being outdoors. Ticks like warm, hidden places: the scalp, behind the ears, the armpits, the waistband, the groin and behind the knees. Check children carefully, especially the head and neck.
• Check your pets when they come in, running your hands over their coat and paying attention to the head, ears, neck and legs, and ask your vet about a suitable tick treatment.
• Keep the garden tidy. Mow the lawn and cut back long grass and dense undergrowth near paths and play areas.

04How to remove a tick safely

• Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool. Tick removal tools are sold by pharmacies, vets and pet shops, and they are worth keeping in the house if you walk in the countryside.
• Grip the tick as close to the skin as possible, by its head or mouthparts, not by its swollen body.
• Pull steadily away from the skin without twisting or jerking, so the mouthparts do not break off.
• Do not squeeze or crush the tick, and do not burn it, smother it or cover it in anything. These can make it release more saliva into the bite.
• Clean the bite with soap and water or an antiseptic, and wash your hands.
• Dispose of the tick by sealing it in a bag or wrapping it in tape, not by crushing it between your fingers.

Make a note of the date and where you were. If you feel unwell in the following weeks, that information helps your GP.

05When to see a GP

See a GP if you have been bitten by a tick, or been somewhere ticks are common, and you develop a circular red rash or flu-like symptoms. Tell them about the bite. If part of the tick has stayed in the skin and the area becomes red, swollen or sore, a GP or pharmacist can advise. For a pet that seems unwell after a tick bite, speak to your vet.