As warmer weather settles into Indiana, state health officials are reminding residents that tick season is now underway — and even the smallest ticks can pose serious health risks.
Ticks are commonly found in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, and the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) warns that exposure can occur during everyday activities such as walking pets, gardening, hiking, or simply spending time outdoors. According to IDOH, ticks are active from early spring through late fall, and several species found in Indiana are capable of transmitting diseases to humans.
Lyme disease remains the most common tick‑borne illness in the state, but Hoosiers are also at risk for other serious infections, including ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Health officials note that Indiana has reported multiple cases of severe tick‑borne illness in recent years, including fatalities linked to ehrlichiosis.
How to Protect Yourself Outdoors
The Indiana Department of Health and local agencies recommend several steps to reduce the risk of tick bites:
- Use EPA‑registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para‑menthane‑diol, or 2‑undecanone.
- Wear long sleeves and long pants when in wooded or grassy areas; light‑colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot.
- Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin, which remains effective through several washings. (Permethrin should never be applied directly to skin.)
- Avoid tall grass and brush when possible and stay on marked trails.
After Returning Indoors
Ticks can be small — sometimes no larger than a poppy seed — so officials stress the importance of checking thoroughly after being outside.
Recommended steps include:
- Checking clothing, gear, pets, and exposed skin for ticks.
- Showering soon after coming indoors to help remove unattached ticks.
- Drying clothes on high heat for 30 minutes to kill any ticks that may be hiding in fabric.
- Removing attached ticks with fine‑tipped tweezers, pulling straight outward with steady pressure.
- Washing the bite area thoroughly afterward.
Anyone who develops symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, or muscle aches after a tick bite should seek medical attention promptly and inform their healthcare provider about the exposure. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing complications from tick‑borne diseases.
Learn More
The Indiana Department of Health provides detailed guidance on tick identification, disease risks, prevention strategies, and safe tick removal. Residents can access these resources — including step‑by‑step prevention tips — on the state’s official website.
For more information, visit the Indiana Department of Health’s tick‑bite prevention page: https://www.in.gov/health/idepd/zoonotic-and-vectorborne-epidemiology-entomology/vector-borne-diseases/tick-borne-diseases/tick-bite-prevention/