Start with your yard.

The first line of defense is keeping ticks off the property around your home.

• • Remove leaf litter.
  • Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns.
  • Place a 3-ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to restrict tick migration into recreational areas.
  • Mow the lawn frequently.
  • Stack wood neatly and in a dry area to discourage rodents.
  • Keep playground equipment, decks, and patios away from yard edges and trees.
  • Discourage unwelcome animals (such as deer, raccoons, and stray dogs) from entering your yard by constructing fences.
  • Remove old furniture, mattresses, or trash from the yard that may give ticks a place to hide.

Practice prevention.

To help protect yourself and your family, you should:

• • Use a chemical repellent with DEET, permethrin or picaridin.
  • Wear light-colored protective clothing.
  • Avoid tick-infested areas.
  • Check yourself and your children daily for ticks and carefully remove any ticks.
  • Vacuum rugs and carpets frequently.

To reduce the chances of ticks on your pet:

• • Check your pets for ticks after they spend time outdoors.
  • If you find a tick on your pet, remove it right away.
  • Reduce tick habitat in your yard.