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Iowa’s parks and woodlands have many visitors during the summer months and those visitors are reminded to look for ticks after outdoor activities. According to officials with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, ticks are active from March through November and knowing how to properly remove ticks from people and pets is important. To remove a tick use tweezers to grab the tick’s mouthparts where they enter the skin, then pull the tick away from the skin and clean and disinfect the site of the bite.

Ticks can carry Lyme disease. To prevent tick bites wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and tuck pants into socks, also wearing light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks. There are also tick-specific repellents and always check yourself for ticks after being outside.