Ticks Out Early, Use Repellent To Keep Them At Bay

An early spring has brought ticks out early.

Putnam County Extension Agent Wayne Key said it’s easy for you or your pets to pick up ticks in your lawn or the woods.

“Where they exist, where they like to be in cool grasses in the lawn, or woody areas, or along areas like tall grasses where it’s cool towards the soil and tall grasses that’s where they like to exist,” Key said.

For pets, Key recommends a good flea and tick preventative. For people, there’s some products that can keep ticks from making you a host.

“There’s several different things you can use while out walking, one of the most popular is a repellent, that keeps them from staying on your skin or your clothing, you can spray your clothing down with a product called DEET, which is an ingredient, a chemical, permethrin spray is another good one,” Key said.

Those sprays may cause allergic reactions, he said. Key recommends spraying clothes and not around your face.