1,000,000 views! How to remove a tick safely!

Date: 01.23.2012

Do you know the easiest and safest way to remove a tick? You'll probably wish you did if you ever find a tick latched on.

TickEncounter Resource Center scientists have tried a large number of reportedly "foolproof" tick removal methods and have concluded that simply grasping the tick close to the skin with a pointy tweezer and slowly pulling up is, without a doubt, the most consistently successfully method. While some of the myriad of tools and strategies have worked to some degree on certain ticks and specific feeding stages, pointy tweezers work every time -- on larvae, nymphs, and adult ticks on any species of tick -- no matter where they are attached.

"We've tried the dish soap-soaked cotton ball method, vaseline, various V-shaped and cup-shaped tools, even electrocution and none get them off every time like pointy tweezers" stated TERC director, Thomas Mather. Nymphal deer ticks and Lone Star ticks are especially challenging for many of the methods other than pointy tweezers, because those ticks are so small and often attach to cryptic areas on the body.

TERC's advice -- As long as you grasp the ticks as close to their mouthpart as possible, there is little risk of squeezing the potentially germ-ladden gut contents into the tick bite site. And don't worry if the mouthpart breaks off; it's less harmful than a splinter and will work it's way out. Just get the tick off as soon as possible, and be sure to identify it using TERC's Tick Identification chart to assess the risk of disease transmission. If the tick is a deer tick, have it tested or at least save it in a sealed plastic bag or taped to an index card with the date.

How NOT to Remove a Tick

A common response to our "how to remove a tick safely" video suggest to burn the tick in order to remove it. Learn why burning the tick is not the correct method!

Current Tick Activity in the Northeast and mid-West United States

February update: Adult stage Deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are not killed by freezing temperatures! During winter months they can still be active on days when temperatures are above freezing. Activity resumes following several consecutive days of thawing temperatures, especially if the ground thaws. Learn more about the deer tick life cycle.

Let us know if you find a tick on you or your pet! Use our tick identification chart to identify tick and then visit the Current Tick Activity page to complete 2 question form.

Not from New England or mid-West? Visit our regional Current Tick Activity page for a complete view of ticks biting in your area.

Current Tick Activity

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Tick Notes