How to avoid tick bites in your yard or while hiking in the woods, and what to do if one starts feasting on you

A tick disease researcher explains the risks and how she avoids bringing home ticks from both work and walking her dog in the woods. Lint rollers, tick checks and some types of chemicals play a role.

By: Amanda Roome, Binghamton University, State University of New York, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 16, 2026

Words: 1,398

Last Updated: 3 days, 8 hours ago

Body Text Preview

By Amanda Roome, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Ticks are small, and you might not notice when they bite, but the diseases they carry can dramatically harm your health.

Each year, deer ticks alone cause an estimated 476,000 new U.S. cases of Lyme disease, which can do long-term damage to a person’s joints, heart and nervous system. You may be hearing about the lone star tick, as well – it can trigger

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us