How to Safely Dislodge a Tick

As you prepare for another hot spring and summer, it’s important to keep in mind that ticks are coming back to bite us. Warm weather means more habitable conditions for ticks, as well as more animals to feed on. Ticks have the capability to transmit many serious diseases, including the infamous Lyme disease. Learning how to remove ticks in the safest way possible can prevent you and your family from contracting diseases this summer.

What Kinds of Ticks Live in Albuquerque?

Here in Albuquerque, we most commonly see cases of the American dog tick biting our residents and their pests. These ticks have oval-shaped bodies with reddish-brown coloration and small white markings on their backs. They are usually about 5mm in length but can grow up to three times larger when engorged with blood.

Fortunately for us, Lyme disease can only be contracted through a deer tick bite – American dog ticks are not known to carry the disease. Deer ticks live primarily in the eastern half of the United States, but there have been some reported cases of Lyme disease in New Mexico over the years.

Removing Ticks Safely

If you’ve been bitten by a tick, try to remove it as soon as possible to minimize your chances of contracting a disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have set out a course of four steps to remove ticks from your skin as safely as possible:

1. Using a pair of fine tweezers, grab the tick at the closest point to the skin that you can.
2. Pull the tick out of the skin using a slow and steady motion. If you turn the tweezers while pulling, the tick’s mouthparts might break off in your skin. Just use the tweezers again to remove the mouthparts if this happens.
3. Clean the area of the bite with soap and warm water or rubbing alcohol after dislodging the tick.
4. Do not squish the tick with your bare hands. Get rid of the tick by throwing it away in a sealed trash bin or flushing it down the toilet.

If you’re experiencing rashes or fever that you believe to be related to a recent tick bite, talk to a doctor about your symptoms and the location and time of your bite.

How Pest Defense Solutions Can Help with Tick Control

If you want to take preventative measures for a tick-free summer this year, reach out to your local pest control company. Our tick experts at Pest Defense Solutions are well versed in tick issues around Albuquerque and can tell you all about the best ways to avoid bites in your area. Contact us today for a free estimate!