The result of a mild winter is a significant increase in the tick population, so we and our pets are often attacked by these arachnids. Warm autumn contributes to this problem even more, because people spend more time in nature: picking mushrooms, walking in forests and parks. As the saying goes, “knowledge is power”, so we believe you will find interesting facts about , which you probably did not know. We’ll also cover how to protect yourself from these blood-sucking parasites to keep your time outdoors safe and enjoyable.
7 interesting facts about ticks
After returning from a walk in the forest, we can quite often see ticks crawling on our clothes or on the fur of pets, but it is important to know that ticks live not only in the forest. They can be found in lawns, parks or meadows. That is why it is important to properly protect yourself from them. There are a lot of myths about ticks (especially about ways to protect yourself) floating around on the Internet. Forget these misconceptions!
- and alcohol doesn’t kill ticks – forget about these tick prevention methods.
- Burning an infected tick with a lighter will do more damage than simply removing it.
- A tick bite is painful – this is also not true. Although the tick penetrates the skin, it is not painful.
- It is a mistake to think that ticks can only be found in the forest. In fact, ticks can be found anywhere.
- These parasites attack only in summer – not true. Thanks to the mild winters, they are active all year round!
- It is a mistake to think that ticks jump from tall trees. In fact, they like to lurk in the tall grass and wait to pounce on their prey.
- A new tick will not grow from a tick head left in the body, but irritation may occur.
How to protect yourself from ticks?
There are many ways to protect yourself from ticks. You can use special preparations and make home remedies against these parasites. We suggest you try this really effective remedy that will protect both you and your pet. All you need is coconut oil. You just need to apply it to the places where ticks usually suck. If you want this remedy to be even more effective, you can mix coconut oil with an essential oil: mint, sage or lemongrass. Parasites hate these smells, so they will stay away.
In addition to these home remedies, there are other steps you can take to reduce the threat of ticks. For example:
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Use repellents: Spray or apply special anti-mite sprays on clothes and skin. Look for products that contain DEET, permethrin, or picaridin, as they are effective at keeping ticks at bay.
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Dress appropriately: When going to forests or meadows, choose light-colored, long-sleeved clothes that cover the entire body. This makes it easier to spot ticks and protects the body from ingesting them.
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Avoid tall grass and dense brush: Try to walk on trails and avoid places where ticks are common – tall grass, bushes and leaf litter.
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Check your body and clothes periodically: Check yourself, your children and your pets carefully for ticks after every trip to nature. Don’t forget to check the places where ticks like to feed the most – behind the ears, in the bends of the knees, armpits and groin.
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Keep your yard tidy: If you live near a forest, cut the grass regularly, remove the layer of leaves and bushes around the house. This will create a less favorable environment for ticks to breed.
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Use natural defenses in your yard: Indoor plants such as lavender, thyme or eucalyptus bushes can act as natural repellents and help repel ticks.
