Yes, you read the title right. Ticks can still bite during the wintertime. Most ticks go into an inactive state once the temperature drops below 35 degrees, but as you know winter on Long Island isn’t always that cold. When the temperature hovers consistently above the 35 degree mark ticks can remain active and in search of a blood meal. That means when those warm winter days hit and you’re itching to get outside it’s important to consider tick safety, especially in grassy, wooded, over-grown areas where ticks are often present.
What can you do to protect you, your family and your pets from tick bites and tick-borne illness during the winter months?
Tick bite prevention in the winter is similar to the steps you would take during the summer. Here are some quick tips:
Make use of tick repellent.
Where long pants (not so hard when its only 50 degrees!).
Tuck pant legs into your socks.
Do a thorough tick check after returning inside.
Clear debris, like piled leaves, from your yard.
Ticks are no laughing matter. Don’t let winter fool you into forgetting to take the proper precautions to safely enjoy your outdoor time.