Stop Worrying About Ticks On Your Hike With These Clever Tips

There are myriad health benefits to hiking –- better balance, improved mood, increased strength, and a boost in heart health are only a few of the pros of getting active in the great outdoors. And with 400 beautiful national parks to explore in the U.S., there are plenty of opportunities for a fun adventure on the trails. Speaking of adventure, a species of blood-sucking pest could derail your enjoyment — ticks. Whether you're planning to scramble along the Rocky Mountains, trek along the Gulf Coast, or trudge through Acadia National Park, you're likely to encounter a tick (or many) during a spring, summer, or fall hike -– they love warm, moist areas but many varieties become dormant during winter.

Don't panic! While these eek-inducing bugs are here to stay, there are plenty of ways to stop them from climbing aboard when you least expect it. From using strong insect repellents to wearing appropriate tick-resistant clothing and choosing the best place to walk, we have assembled plenty of great ways to help prevent a tick bite. And we found them all by sifting through a ton of research released by experts at large government and health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Finally, with these clever tips, you can stop worrying about ticks on your hike!

As the famous saying goes, "Knowledge is power." In this case, knowing where ticks hunker down is the key to avoiding a bite. We now know that ticks can be found across the United States, but they are also prevalent in many countries worldwide –- tick-borne encephalitis has been transmitted from ticks to humans in East and Central Asia and Europe, for instance. That's why it's so important to be aware of your surroundings and these icky critters' most beloved hiding spots. Ticks feel most at home in wooded areas and like to cling to long grasses and shrubs. 

Ticks can also be found in your lawn and leaf piles, or leaf litter, as many refer to those old layers of leaves decomposing on the soil. Ticks also like to hitch a ride on animals that happen to brush past their homes. These insects can feed on mammals, reptiles, birds, and even amphibians. According to the CDC, ticks can sense an animal's body odor, heat, breath, and vibrations. They wait on the tips of grasses and shrubs for an opportune moment to climb onto their next host. If you're hiking between April and September, be extra vigilant, as this is when ticks are most active in many parts of the U.S. They love warm and humid conditions.

Ticks love to hang out in long grasses, clinging to the blade's tip with only their third and fourth pairs of legs. According to the CDC, they then stretch their first pair of legs to climb onto their next, unsuspecting host. Eww! If you don't want this to be you, be cautious of what you wear on your hike. Many experts advise choosing white or light-colored clothes so you can spot ticks before they make their way to your skin. Many ticks are tiny and hard to see, so light clothes make them easier to identify.

Even the American Hiking Society claims that lighter-colored clothes may attract fewer ticks. However, a small study (there were only 10 participants) published in the Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases found the opposite, concluding that dark-colored clothing appealed to fewer ticks. Regardless of who is correct, it's clear that wearing lighter colors makes it easier to see creepy crawlies of all kinds. If you choose to go the darker clothing route, be extra vigilant when checking, as the ticks are more likely to be camouflaged.

While we all know that ticks enjoy hiding in long grasses, they can also be found on trees and shrubs. That means your hair can be an easy vessel if a tick happens to be nearby when your wavy locks are flowing in the breeze. Don't have much hair to worry about? Ticks can still climb on your scalp if you happen to brush up against their resting place. And if a tick happens to hop on via an exposed ankle or arm, it'll be able to make its way pretty much anywhere it wants, including your scalp.

Wearing a hat, bandana, or other head covering can help protect your scalp and hair from unwanted visitors. Another good piece of advice: tie your long hair back. While ticks won't be dropping from the trees any time soon (they prefer to stay low, where they can climb onto hosts like mice or chipmunks), it's always better to be prepared and make your hair and head uninviting in case they're tempted to bite in that area.

Be cautious of your surroundings if you're hiking during a camping trip, especially a solo camping trip. When setting up camp, choose an open area away from vegetation. You're basically asking for critters to share your sleeping bag if you pitch a tent in a field blanketed in long grass. While staying away from tick-favored spots doesn't mean they won't travel to your "safe" space (remember, they like to hitch rides on creatures like mice, chipmunks, and deer), carefully picking your campsite can reduce your risk of a bite.

Another way to limit a tick's impact in your tent or RV is by treating your camping equipment with permethrin (that heavy-duty insect repellent we mentioned earlier). Camping experts at Section Hiker suggest spraying the inside of a tent and the insect netting instead of the rainfly when using permethrin. The outer section and fly are waterproof, which will prevent the repellent from soaking into the fabric. Plus, they say, the sun's UV rays can break down the permethrin quickly. For another level of protection, be sure to inspect your camping gear and clothing before heading out for a hike — you don't want a tiny, blood-sucking hitchhiker to join your journey.

After you've put your clothes in the dryer, head to the shower. In her interview with MSUToday, Professor Tsao recommended that hikers check themselves for ticks in a shower within two hours of their walk. This advice is echoed by the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which advises people to "bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within 2 hours)." Doing so could wash off ticks that haven't yet attached and help hikers discover others that may have begun to embed themselves in their skin. 

The CDC gives the same advice about showering, stating that it can reduce a person's risk of contracting Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. It also says showering gives hikers an ideal opportunity to conduct a thorough tick check. If you find a tick, the New Jersey Department of Health (pdf) advises you to use a tissue to grab it, as long as it isn't attached. If the tick has already embedded itself or part of itself, you'll need to remove it immediately.

If you're an avid hiker or simply love to camp, it's probably time to invest in a tick-removing tool. These are usually quite cheap (about $5 or less) and have a small notch in one end to slip around the tick. Once the tick is inside the notch, carefully pull the device in the opposite direction, keeping it flush against the skin. This prevents squishing and removes the entire tick, so there's less risk of infection. Fine tweezers will work just as well. On its website, the CDC recommends gripping the tick as close to the skin as possible with the tweezers. Then, pull up with "steady, even pressure." It says not to jerk or twist the tick, which can cause the mouth to break off and stay inside.

Do not squish the tick in your fingers, burn it, or put products like petroleum jelly or nail polish on it. This can cause the tick to release saliva into the skin. After removing it, clean your hands and the bite with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Put the tick in rubbing alcohol, wrap it in tape, place it in a sealed bag or container, or flush it down the toilet. If you're worried that an illness has been transmitted, save the tick (in the bag) and bring it to a doctor or mail it to a tick-testing facility to be checked. See a doctor if you develop any symptoms.