Ticks

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About ticks
Prevent tick bites
Removing ticks
Tick identification
Tick-borne diseases in San Diego
More information

About ticks

Prevent tick bites

Stay on paths and trails

• Ticks are common in grassy, brushy areas and on plants that line trails.
• Stay on trails and keep pets on leash and on trail while hiking to avoid ticks.
• Don't feed or touch wild animals.

Dress for protection

• Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants to cover your skin.
• Wear light colored clothing that will help you spot ticks crawling on you.
• In areas with a lot of ticks, consider wearing clothes that are pre-treated with permethrin, a product that will kill or repel ticks.

Use tick repellent

• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or para-menthane-diol (PMD).
• Apply repellent to clothing and exposed skin.
• If you are using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
• Read and follow all label instructions when using repellent.
• Talk to your veterinarian about flea and tick prevention for your pets.

Check for ticks

• After spending time outdoors, check yourself, your companions, your gear, and your pets for ticks.
• Check your whole body including behind the knees, under the arms, and in the hairline, belt line, and groin area.
• Take a shower within 2 hours after returning indoors.
• Putting your clothing in a hot dryer for 10 minutes can help kill any ticks on your clothing.
• Tick nymphs may be very small, about the size of a poppy seed.

Removing ticks

If you find an attached tick, remove it right away. Follow the steps below or in this video. 

1. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible.
   
   
2. Pull the tick upward, using a firm, steady motion. Do not twist, squish, or burn an attached tick. This can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. If this happens, remove the mouth-parts with tweezers.
   
   
3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
   
   
4. Never crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. You may want to save the tick or take a picture for identification.  
   
   
5. If you develop a rash or fever within several days to weeks after removing a tick, see your doctor.

Tick identification

There are several different species of ticks found in San Diego County. Different species can spread different diseases. Below are some of the common types of ticks you might find here. For help identifying a tick, you can contact the Vector Control Program. 

Tick-borne diseases in San Diego

Diseases and symptoms

Ticks can spread diseases to people like tularemia, Lyme disease, and spotted fevers. Many tickborne diseases can have similar signs and symptoms. See your healthcare provider if you develop the symptoms below after having been bitten by a tick, or having spent time in areas where ticks may live.

• Fever and chills
• Aches and pains
• Rash

Pathogen testing

We routinely collect ticks along hiking trails throughout the county. These ticks are identified, combined into batches, and tested for the pathogens that cause disease. If tests come back positive, results are posted below.

We do not test ticks that have bitten people, but we can help identify ticks you've found on yourself or your pet.

More Information

Questions?

  858-694-2888

  vector@sdcounty.ca.gov