Whenever you spend time outdoors in Vermont, it’s possible there are ticks nearby.
Ticks can spread diseases through their bites. Take simple steps to protect yourself and your loved ones:
Protect – Avoid tick habitat, use repellent, wear protective clothing, and protect your pets.
Check – Check yourself, children, pets, and gear after spending time outdoors.
Remove – Remove attached ticks as soon as possible with fine-tipped tweezers.
Watch – Watch for symptoms for 30 days after a tick bite and contact your healthcare provider if you become sick.
Found an attached tick?
Use the Tick Bite Guide for information on what to do next.
Ticks are common throughout Vermont whenever temperatures are above freezing. They thrive in wooded and brushy areas with tall grass, shrubs, and leaf litter. You'll often find them along the edges of backyards, farms, trails, and sports fields. Ticks feed on animals such as deer, mice, and chipmunks, so they're often found where these animals live or travel.
- Walk in the center of trails and avoid brushing against tall grass and vegetation.
- Avoid brushing against tall grass and vegetation along trail edges.
- Keep your yard well maintained: keep grass mowed, trim back brush, and remove leaf litter to help reduce tick habitat.
Did you know? Ticks stay low to the ground. They can’t fly or jump—instead, they wait on grasses and other vegetation and cling to people or animals as they brush past. This is called questing!
The clothing you wear can help prevent ticks from reaching your skin and make them easier to spot.
- Wear pants, long-sleeved shirts, long socks, and boots when spending time outdoors.
- Choose light-colored clothing to make it easier to spot ticks.
- Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin. Never apply permethrin directly to skin. Permethrin kills ticks on contact and continues to protect through several washes. You can also buy pre-treated clothing and gear.
EPA-registered insect repellents are a safe and effective way to help prevent tick bites when used as directed.
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent that's right for your needs. The EPA's search tool can help you compare products based on the length of protection, the pests you want to repel, and the active ingredient.
- Look for one of these active ingredients:
- DEET
- Picaridin
- IR3535
- Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE)
- Para-menthane-diol (PMD)
- 2-undecanone
- Always follow the product label instructions.
- Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children younger than 3 years old.
Pets, especially dogs and outdoor cats, can bring ticks into your home.
- Talk to your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products for your pet, such as oral medications, topical treatments, or tick collars.
- Check your pets carefully for ticks after they've been outdoors.
- Remove any ticks promptly using fine-tipped tweezers.
