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Excessive Heat Warning in Boston
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Mayor Wu issued an excessive heat warning for the City from Wednesday, July 1, through Friday, July 3, due to the heat in the forecast. The City will activate cooling centers, and pools will be open across Boston.

Tick Safety

Tickborne diseases can spread to people through tick bites. Learn how to prevent tick bites and find more information on ticks below.

Ticks are relatives of spiders that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. The most common ticks in Massachusetts include deer ticks (blacklegged ticks) and dog ticks; lone star ticks are also increasingly found in parts of Massachusetts. Some ticks can carry germs that cause disease. Ticks exist in three feeding stages: larva, nymph and adult. Ticks come in different sizes, ranging from as small as poppy seeds to as large as watermelon seeds, so checking carefully for ticks on your body is important. Ticks of all sizes can bite humans and can make them sick.

Prevention

The best way to prevent tickborne disease is to check yourself, your children, and your pets after spending time outdoors. Check your legs, groin, armpits, along the hairline, and in or behind the ears. Deer ticks are very small but look for new “freckles.” 

Not all ticks carry disease, and a tick bite does not mean that you will always get sick. The longer a tick stays attached, the more likely they are to transmit an illness. 

Other precautions include: 

  • Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck your pant legs into your socks and your shirt into your pants.  

  • Light colored clothes will help you spot the ticks on your clothes before they reach your skin. 

  • Stay to the middle of trails or paths when in a heavily wooded area and avoid brushing against tall grass, brush, and leaf litter. 

  • Use an EPA-registered insect repellent on exposed skin and follow all label instructions. Learn more. 

  • Treat clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase pre-treated clothing. Never apply permethrin directly to skin. 

  • Check your pets for ticks and talk with your veterinarian about the best ways to protect them from ticks. 

  • Talk to a healthcare provider if you or a family member:

    • have been bitten by a deer tick; or

    • develop a rash at the site of a tick bite; or

    • experience symptoms of a tick-borne infection such as rash, fever, headache, tiredness, or muscle aches; or

    • experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or signs of an allergic reaction (face/tongue swelling or hives) within hours after eating meat or dairy products. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Ticks are generally found in brushy, wooded, or grassy areas. Ticks do not fly, jump, or drop from trees or high bushes. Instead, ticks wait on vegetation and attach to people or animals that brush against them and climb upwards.

Ticks in Massachusetts can spread: 

  • Lyme disease 

  • Babesiosis 

  • Anaplasmosis 

  • Tularemia 

  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever 

  • Powassan virus 

  • Borrelia miyamotoi 

  • Alpha gal 

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tickborne disease in Massachusetts. The risk of tickborne diseases varies by location and season, but people can be exposed anywhere ticks are present. 

  • Carefully remove the tick as soon as possible. 

  • Use fine point tweezers to grip the tick as close to the skin as possible. 

  • Pull the tick straight outward with steady, gentle pressure. Do not squeeze or twist the tick. Clean the affected area with rubbing alcohol and wash your hands with soap and water.  

  • Do not apply kerosene, petroleum jelly, nail polish, or a hot match tip to remove the tick. 

  • You may want to save the tick for identification. Notify your healthcare provider if you have a deer tick bite or if you develop a rash or other signs of illness following a tick bite.

Related Resources

Related Resources
Ticks (CDC)
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