5 Common Tick Myths Debunked: How to Stay Protected from Ticks

Learn how to stay protected from ticks with these debunked tick myths! Don't believe the misconception that ticks fall out of trees or that all ticks carry diseases. Discover the truth about ticks and how to protect yourself with effective tick prevention methods, such as using permethrin-treated clothing and doing a tick check when you come home.

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[hueypilot]

One other tip, don't wear dark clothing. Light colored clothing won't scare ticks away, but makes it easier to see them so they can be removed from clothing.

[jamestimmons]

As a birder, I have worn gaiters for many years. This is very useful for avoiding ticks, chiggers and fire ants. It is an easy and cheap solution for a common problem. Gaiters also keep burrs off of your shoe laces and prevent your shoes from becoming untied.

[shortribslongbow]

About ticks in trees, I have walked under oak trees and had a tick land on my arm. Squirrels get ticks and fleas so they do sometimes fall from above they may not live there but they DO fall from trees.

[iam]

I have to comment about ticks not dropping out of trees.
I am a lifelong wide traveling hiker camper and by far the most ticks I've ever had on me in one short walk involved sitting up on a branch 12' above the ground in a Willow tree.

Minutes after sitting I noticed a tick drop on my arm. After doing a self check to see if I had more I found 5.
The Woman I was with had a similar number.

I'm just adding my two cents.✌🏼

[SgtAl]

In 1971 I almost died and was in a coma for 2 weeks due to a tick bite, there was an outbreak of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the southeast and I was unfortunate enough to get it but fortunate enough to survive.

[LolaSmollz]

I’m from central Massachusetts; my parents live on 4 acres of land. My dad was bit a week before father’s day and was in hospital for the last week with Anaplasmosis. Thankfully he is now home and resting…but he was so so sick. Poor thing.

So please be careful, everyone!

[rtel]

Got a warning in my email. It said "if someone comes to your door and offers to check for ticks if you undress and turn with your arms up, DO NOT DO IT. IT IS A SCAM. They just want to see you naked. I wish I got this email yesterday. I am so embarrassed!"

[grahamlong]

I was the first person in the UK to be diagnosed with Lyme Disease (1985) and was bitten on the front of my thigh. I never ever saw the tick, indicating that it did not stay attached for very long. I did get the bullseye rash, but not having seen the tick I cannot say how long after the bite it appeared.
I will also say that I HAVE seen ticks on the leaves of bushes six feet from the ground!

[Oldsparkey]

I'm 79 and been in the woods most of my life. I like to wear a wide brimmed hat ( Stetson ) when out and about. I am also very familiar with Ticks. On occasion I have found Ticks on the top part of the brim of my hat.. No, they were not there before the hike but sure were after the hike. My hat was on my head all the time so they had to be up higher then my 6, 1 to get there. Must be a rare breed of a Florida, high climbing, tick. Sure look like a run of the mill brown dog tick.

[kyjenkin]

I love being outdoors and I have found ticks on me that came from vegetation of all heights. Walking through short and tall grasses (ankle biters), bushes and shrubs, and trees. The most ticks I've experienced on me was camping in a small clearing with tree branches overhead and the little bastards dropped down onto me and my camping party like they were paratroopers invading Normandy. We counted 53 on my dad that had climbed onto his body that evening and we knew there were more but it was dark and we could only see so much with flashlights. I've also found a couple on me when I took a lunch break in the office parking lot and stood under a relatively small ornamental pear tree, so they can and will try to get to a host any way they can.

[kellyharrison]

But they DO! I had NEVER heard of ticks falling from the trees. Then I discovered ticks floating down from above all on my own from personal experience. Many times over the past two decades.. And yes, I know the difference between a tick and any other arthropods.

[oldgloryhillfarmturtlewoma]

Oh baloney, ticks in trees isn’t a myth. Ticks ANYWHERE isn’t a myth. I’ve seen them on clothes line posts high above my head, on the tops of plastic garbage cans, on a hanging bird feeder. Whether their little tick brain said “Imma hang on that bird feeder and drop on that lady’s head when she comes to fill it”…or the bird brought it when it came for the seed DOESN’T MATTER. Ticks can be anywhere.

[jackhammer]

I have to correct something here...17 years ago I was bitten by a black legged tick I had NO rash and after the tick was gone had a small spot maybe the size of a sesame seed and I never thought more of it...well about 6 months later I got sick and was diagnosed with lyme and damn near died... I was treated for 11 1/2 months with several antibiotics that finally pulled me out of that hell...my point is don't go by any rash if the tick bore into you and it was infected there's a high chance you will get lyme and trust me it ain't no picnic so go to your Dr tell them you were bit and get a week of antibiotic just in case...it's a cheap and safe way of making sure you don't contract lyme had I have done that I would have saved that year of hell and I was lucky because many never totally recover from this dreaded disease.

[philipatoz]

If I see a tick bite, I sure as heck am not going to wait until I THINK it has infected me - as it is insane to take that risk. If I find an attached tick, I IMMEDIATELY go get prophylactic antibiotics (usually doxycline capsules). I spent over two nightmarish years trying to overcome late-stage Lyme, and other related problems beyond that! I didn't know what was wrong with me for about 4 months. NEVER tested positive and didn't have a bulls-eye rash - but did find a dead, engorged tick on me - likely, the size of the head of a pin when it crawled on me. IF you have been sick without answers, nothing showing up in blood tests, and think Lyme might be a possibility, do NOT waste time with a doctor not experienced in treating it. Many docs won't take you serious, or they might give you a small dosage of antibiotics that isn't nearly strong enough or treated long enough. Lyme is tricky to diagnose and if testing doesn't show what's wrong, a good Lyme doc, given that they testing is highly imperfect, will treat you to see how you respond. Also note, the QUICKER you get on antibiotics, the better chance you have of beating it relatively easily. Caught mine late, and already had serious neurological symptoms by the time I began treatment. Last thing, once you begin antibiotics, as the bacteria begins to die off, your symptoms may initially get worse, which will eventually moderate - but this is a good sign that the antibiotics are killing bacteria. But, again, this is why you need an experienced Lyme practitioner!

[rastus]

Having lived in the middle of the woods in Arkansas, and cutting firewood, I was very familiar with ticks, and worse yet, chiggers. To work all day in the woods, I first put Avon Skin So Soft with a few drops of patchouli oil on my body. Long pants, long-sleeved shirt tucked in, work boots, and pant legs duct taped around the ankles. Then the DEET or permethrin sprayed on shirt and pants. You only stand on a chigger nest one time before you learn to prepare.

[kellydavis]

I have found ticks on my roof while painting eaves and trim. They are definitely in the trees.

[billschmidt]

After reading the comments-- Ticks do Fall from Trees onto people.

[cheryllesley]

I am 75 and lived in the country for many years. I too, have experienced ticks from trees. They can get in a tree from animals that climb trees. The tick doesn't have to climb the tree itself.

[rawkabye]

Glad you're an expert, but ticks do actually fall from trees. Like many other commenters, I have personally seen it happen. I had never even heard this "myth" actually and it surprised the heck out of me when one fell on me as I went under a low branch. As others have pointed out - the animals that ticks ride on climb trees.

[robertlivingston]

Tick's do fall from trees, I've witnessed it, almost sounded like it was raining, most were hitting the ground but a few where landing on us. And yes I've seen them sitting on the tip of a grass seed head with their legs outstretched waiting for you to come in contact with them and that's I'm sure more typical.