I Found a Tick. Now What?
Finding a tick is not a reason to panic — it's a reason to act intentionally. Here's what to do.
Step 1: Remove the Tick, But Don't Yank it Out
The instinct to pull a tick out fast is the wrong move. Pulling too quickly or at the wrong angle can cause the tick's mouthparts to break off and remain embedded in the skin.
Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool — grip the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible
Pull upward slowly with steady, even pressure — straight up, no twisting, jerking, or crushing
Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water afterward
Always keep a tick removal tool handy — in your bag, on a hike, in your luggage
Step 2: Don't Throw the Tick Away
The tick itself is information. Knowing whether it was infected matters for your own health decisions and for public health tracking. Given how unreliable human blood tests can be, testing the tick gives you more accurate data than testing yourself.
Identify the species—you can submit a photo to TickEncounter’s TickSpotter—species determines which diseases to watch for, not just whether to test
If the tick was attached to your skin, save it and send it in for testing—this applies to deer ticks and other species—the TickReport Standard test ($100) screens for 15+ pathogens including Lyme, babesiosis, and more
For testing at home, two Lyme-only options: TiCK TEST by TiCK MiTT ($35, 10 min) and LymeAlert ($49.99, ~30 min) but they only test for the Borrelia burgdorferi that causes Lyme—if it's not a deer tick, go with a full panel
If you found a Lone Star tick, also be aware of alpha-gal syndrome (a red meat allergy triggered by the bite), which requires a human blood test, not a tick test, to detect it
If you're not sure or want to wait, save the tick in the freezer in a sealed bag with a damp cotton ball and the date you found it—you can test it later if symptoms develop
Step 3: Watch for Symptoms
Symptoms can appear anywhere from three to thirty days after a bite. Early treatment is the most reliable path to full recovery.
Watch for an expanding red rash, though it won't always look like a bull's-eye—and many don’t get one at all
Other early signs include fever, chills, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, and joint or muscle aches
Symptoms that come and go are still worth tracking, as Lyme is known for being inconsistent
If anything feels off, don't wait for symptoms to worsen—contact a Lyme-literate provider sooner than later
Step 4: If You Have a Pet, Check Them Too
Households with pets have nearly twice the risk of finding ticks. Dogs and cats can carry ticks and are also susceptible to Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
Check your pet thoroughly after any time outdoors, including your own backyard
Pay attention to areas around the ears, collar, between toes, under the tail, and around the groin
If you find a tick on your pet, remove it the same way — fine-tipped tweezers, steady upward pressure
Contact your vet promptly if your pet shows any signs of illness after a tick exposure
Prevention is the best tool we have—but when it isn’t enough, knowing what to do next makes all the difference.
