What Are Ticks?

Ticks are bugs that feed on the blood of people and animals. When they bite you, they can make you sick. Two kinds of ticks found in Massachusetts can carry diseases: deer ticks and dog ticks.

Tick and Mosquito Prevention

How can I protect my family, my pets, and myself from tick and mosquito bites?

The best way to prevent tick and mosquito related diseases is to prevent bites. Ticks are most commonly found in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. They only attach when you come into direct contact with them, they cannot jump or fly. Mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs in and plants to hide in so they are usually found around water and plants. Mosquito eggs are laid on water or damp soil where the young mosquitoes grow and develop. Follow these prevention steps:

• Check yourself for ticks once a day.
• Use repellents that contain DEET on your exposed skin and those that contain permethrin on your clothes.
• Stick to main pathways and the center of trails if you can.
• Weather permitting, wear long-sleeved, light-colored shirts and long pants tucked into your socks. This will help keep ticks away from your skin and make it easier to spot ticks on your clothing.

Where do ticks often attach?

Favorite places ticks like to go on your body include: areas between the toes, back of the knees, groin, armpits, and neck; along the hairline; and behind the ears.

When to remove ticks?

A tick should be carefully removed as soon as possible. The longer an infected tick remains attached to you, the more likely you are to get sick.

Why are mosquito bites a concern?

Some mosquitoes carry germs that can make people and some animals sick. Mosquitoes can transmit germs when they bite. In Massachusetts, the diseases linked to mosquitoes are West Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus.

How long does it take for the tick to spread disease?

It can take 24 hours or more for infected ticks to spread disease, so even if you get a tick bite, you may be able to stop yourself from getting sick just by removing the tick promptly.

Do all mosquitoes spread germs to people?

No. In fact, most mosquito bites will only cause itching or skin irritation. However, some species found in Massachusetts carry viruses that can cause illness.

Visit the Tick-Borne Diseases webpage at Mass.gov for more information on tick-borne diseases and how to prevent them.