Finding a tick attached to you can be unsettling, especially when you know that tick-borne diseases occur in our area. The most important things you can do are remove the tick promptly and correctly, save it for identification, and monitor yourself for symptoms.
Remove the Tick as Soon as Possible
Do not wait for a healthcare provider to remove an attached tick.
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the surface of the skin as possible.
- Pull upward using steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick, as this may cause its mouthparts to break off in the skin.
- If the mouthparts remain in the skin and cannot be removed easily with clean tweezers, leave them alone. The skin will usually expel them naturally as it heals.
- Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer.
- Check the rest of your body carefully for additional ticks.
Do not cover the tick with petroleum jelly, nail polish, essential oils, or other substances, and do not try to remove it using heat. These methods may delay removal and can agitate the tick, potentially causing it to release infectious fluids into the bite site and increasing the risk of pathogen transmission. Prompt mechanical removal with tweezers is the safest approach.
Save the Tick for Identification
Place the tick in a sealed container or Ziploc bag. Record:
- The date the tick was removed
- Where you may have encountered it
- Approximately how long it may have been attached, if known
- Your contact information
Teton County Weed & Pest District (TCWP) accepts ticks for species identification. Identifying the tick can provide useful context because different tick species are associated with different pathogens. However, identification alone cannot determine whether a person has been exposed to or infected with a tick-borne pathogen.
Do Not Rely on Pathogen Testing of the Tick
After a tick bite, it may seem logical to have the tick tested for pathogens to determine whether you are at risk. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend using tick-testing results to make medical decisions.
Testing a tick cannot reliably tell you whether you will develop a tick-borne disease:
- A positive result means that a pathogen was detected in the tick. It does not mean the pathogen was transmitted to you.
- A negative result does not guarantee that you were not exposed. Test results may be inaccurate with dead and blood-engorged ticks, and you may have encountered another tick without realizing it.
- Commercial tick-testing laboratories are not required to meet the same quality-control standards as clinical laboratories used to diagnose human illness. They may also not test for pathogens relevant to Wyoming.
- Waiting for a tick-testing result could delay appropriate medical evaluation and treatment if symptoms develop.
What TCWP Can and Cannot Do
TCWP conducts tick surveillance and pathogen research to better understand tick populations and tick-borne disease risks in our region. Because of this work, we receive many requests from people hoping to have an individual tick tested following a bite.
TCWP does not test ticks removed from people or animals for the purpose of assessing an individual’s medical risk. Our laboratory is an entomological research laboratory, not a clinical diagnostic laboratory. We cannot diagnose illness, determine whether a pathogen was transmitted during a particular bite, or recommend medical treatment.
TCWP can identify the tick to species and provide information about that species and known pathogens associated with it. Any questions about your health, symptoms, disease testing, or treatment should be directed to a qualified healthcare provider. Questions concerning a pet or other animal should be directed to a veterinarian.
Watch for Symptoms
Pay attention to how you feel during the days and weeks following a tick bite. Contact a healthcare provider if you develop any flu-like symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Rash
- Headache
- Unusual fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Weakness or other concerning symptoms
Tell your healthcare provider that you were bitten by a tick, when the bite occurred, the tick species if known, and where you most likely encountered the tick.
Prevent Future Tick Bites
Learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your pets before your next outdoor adventure.