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Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

WHAT ARE TICKS?

Ticks are external parasites related to spiders that feed on the blood of people and animals. When they bite and feed upon hosts, ticks can transmit pathogens (bacteria, viruses, or parasites) that can cause diseases in humans, wildlife, and domestic animals. Ticks can be found anywhere outdoors, from backyards to woodlands and are most active from late spring to early fall.

TICK PREVENTION

Protect. Check. Remove. Watch.

Tick Habitat

Be cautious in tick habitat. Ticks are often found in brush, tall grass, and woodlands.

Wear Protective Clothing

Wear pants and long sleeves. Tuck pants into socks to keep ticks away from your skin.

Use Insect Repellent

EPA-registered products containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of citronella can deter ticks.

Treat Clothes and Gear

Treat clothes and gear with 0.5% permethrin. Do not apply directly to skin.

 Walk in Center of Trails

Stick to the center of trails as much as possible to avoid brushing against ticks.

Photo of a dog receiving a spot-on tick control product.

Protect Pets

Check pets for ticks and use tick
prevention medicine.

Check for Ticks

Check your entire body for ticks after being outdoors, including your own backyard. Ticks may be found:

In and around the ears
In and around the hair
Inside the belly button
Under the arms
Around the waist
Between the legs
Back of the knees

Watch for Signs and Symptoms

If you develop a rash, fever, muscle or joint pain, headaches, or other signs of illness after removing a tick or you suspect you may have bitten by a tick, see your doctor.

Tell your doctor about your recent tick bite or that you suspect that you may have been bitten by a tick.
If you were bitten by a tick, tell your doctor when the bite occurred and where you likely acquired the tick.

How to Remove a Tick

If you find a tick attached to your skin, use fine-tipped tweezers to remove it as quickly as possible.

Use clean, fine-tipped tweezes to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible.
Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk; this can cause mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers. If you cannot remove the mouth easily with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by

Putting it in alcohol,
Placing it in a sealed bag/container,
Wrapping it tightly in tape, or
Flushing it down the toilet.

TICKS IN KENTUCKY

Different species of ticks are found throughout Kentucky

Learn More

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Please contact our Information Center at 1-800-858-1549 or Info.Center@ky.gov if you have any questions not answered below.

What are ticks?

Ticks are small parasitic arachnids. They feed on the blood of mammals, reptiles, and birds. Ticks can carry pathogens (viruses, bacteria, and parasites) that can be transferred to the host that they are feeding on.

Where can ticks be found?

Ticks are often found in woodlands, tall grass, bushes, thicket, and leaf litter.

Can ticks carry diseases?

Yes, certain ticks can carry pathogens (viruses, bacteria, or parasites) that can make people and animals sick. Learn more about ticks in Kentucky and the diseases that they can carry.

How do ticks transmit disease?

Ticks transmit disease through the process of feeding on hosts. Different tick species prefer different hosts and can even prefer certain hosts depending on whether they are in a larva, nymph, or adult life cycle stage. If the host the tick is feeding on has a bloodborne infection, the tick will ingest the pathogen (a virus, bacterium, or parasite) that caused the disease. After feeding, the tick will drop off the host. When the ticks feed on a different host, they transmit the pathogens they now carry by feeding upon a new host. Preventing exposure to tick bites is the best way to prevent tick-borne diseases.

Do ticks fly?

No, ticks don't fly. They are related to spiders and don't have wings. Ticks also don't jump. They move around by crawling, climbing, or clinging onto vegetation, waiting for a potential host to brush by so that they can latch on.

Once a tick bites, how long does it stay attached?

How long a tick stays attached to a host depends on the species of tick. Some ticks may feed on a host for a few hours or remain attached for a few weeks.

Can you get tickborne diseases from consuming game?

No, there is no evidence to suggest that you can get tickborne diseases from consuming game that was infested with ticks or suffering from a tickborne illness. As a general precaution, do not consume meat from any game that was visibly sick and cook all game to an internal temperature of 165°F. to kill any present viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Are ticks active during the winter?

Ticks are particularly active during spring, summer, and early fall. Ticks aren't killed off by cold temperatures. Instead, they become dormant or inactive, but if the temperature is warm enough, they can become active.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

University of Kentucky Department of Entomology

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Ticks

Kentucky Department for Public Health

Tickborne Disease in Kentucky

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Tick Prevention Flyer

WILDLIFE HEALTH PROGRAM

REPORT SICK OR DEAD WILDLIFE

WILDLIFE DISEASES

Photos of tick prevention on this page courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Photos of the Blacklegged Tick and Lone Star Tick courtesy of James Gathany, CDC.

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​WHAT ARE TICKS?

​TICK PREVENTION

​​Protect. Check. Remove. Watch​.​

​​​Check for Ticks