Maine Tips: What to Do If You Find a Tick Biting You

With temperatures quickly returning to 'normal' here in Maine (what is a normal temp anyway?), we're already beginning to see a rapid uptick (no pun intended) in the number of ticks that are on the move in our backyards.

This means that if you haven't already you should begin treating your pets for the impending 'tick season'. Using something like Frontline Plus or the oral tab Bravecto can be lifesavers when it comes to protecting our furry friends from the nearly invisible crawlies that exist in the grass near our homes.

That's all well and good for our dogs and cats, but do you know what to do if you find a tick on your body that has already bitten you and started to dig in? We've all heard friends and family tell us old wives tales about 'what they heard works', but we have some tips directly from the Centers For Disease Control.

First they recommend using fine-tip tweezers and grabbing the tick as close to the skin as possible. Next, you should pull straight up with consistent pressure. They say not to twist and jerk the tweezers because you can rip pieces of the head off which can then get stuck in the body. If that happens, you should then try to remove fragment parts with the tweezers also.

To dispose of the tick do not try and crush it with your fingers. Instead experts say you should place it in a plastic bag, putting it in alcohol or simply flushing it down the toilet.

The CDC also says on their website, "Avoid folklore remedies such as “painting” the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible–do not wait for it to detach."

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