Health and Fitness : Tick Talk

More than a dozen tick species are found in Iowa, but three are most common - blacklegged (aka deer tick), dog tick (aka wood tick) and the lone star tick. Ticks are active March through November.

Prevention is best:

• wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants tucked into socks
• light colored clothes make finding ticks easier.
• use repellent containing DEET
• add permethrin repellents on clothing per label
• Check for ticks afield and at home.

If you find yourself outdoors without tweezers and need to remove a tick, use fine weight fishing line, thread or floss tied into a simple overhand knot. Gently tighten the knot around the head of the tick. Slowly pull the ends of the line to tighten the knot and pull out the tick.