Ticks are becoming a bigger concern across Nebraska as the state enters peak tick season. Nebraska Extension Urban Entomologist Jody Green says ticks can be active year-round, but May and June are considered the height of tick season in the state.
As more Nebraskans head outdoors for hiking, camping, trail running, and other warm-weather activities, Green says it’s important to take precautions to avoid tick bites. She recommends using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants in grassy or wooded areas, and checking your body, clothing, and pets for ticks after spending time outside.
“After coming in from outdoors, you want to take a shower as quick as you can and check those areas for ticks,” Green says. “Take those clothes that you wore outside and put them in a hot dryer, tumble them in there for 10-20 minutes and that will kill any ticks hitchhiking in.”
Green says the most common ticks found in eastern Nebraska are the American dog tick and the lone star tick, both of which can carry diseases that affect people and animals. For more information about tick prevention click here.