How to Remove and Dispose of a Tick

How do you properly remove a tick?  Once removed, how do you dispose of a tick?  There are a lot of theories floating on the Internet.

Listening to people discuss their methods of disposing removed ticks can range from hilarious to frightening.  If you’ve heard these discussions, you may begin to ask yourself if others feel about ticks the same way they feel about werewolves or other monsters.  Many ideas for disposing of a tick seem both inhuman and punitive to the tick.  That’s probably why we never see protestors demanding an end to cruel and unusual punishment against ticks.

Ticks don’t need to be feared.  Yes, they will suck your blood.  Yes, they can give you a disease, actually several very nasty ones.  Scientists believe though that they need to be on your skin drinking your blood between 24-48 hours before your risk of infection becomes significant.

So before you get your flame thrower out or fire up the grill to make a funeral pyre for a tick you find this summer, let’s look at some creative methods of eliminating ticks others have used.  On wikiHow.com, there are five methods listed.  Readers have added even more.  Some of these are comical. You’ll see our recommendation down below but this list was so interesting, we had to share.

Do not remove or dispose of a tick any of these ways!

First, there is fire.  You may have heard of using fire to burn a tick on your skin in order to Deer tickmake it release its grip.  That’s a bad practice for several reasons, including risk of burning yourself.  It’s also a perfect way for the tick to dump its infectious bacteria quickly into your blood before it releases or dies.  So, remove first and dispose of second.

Next, there is the flush.  Once the tick is removed, the suggestion is to wrap it in toilet paper and flush it down the toilet.  You may fear the tick won’t go all the way down or that it will crawl back up if it has only been partially flushed down the drain.  Although no cases have been reported, you imagine “Tick Terminator” coming back for revenge.  This is another not so good idea.  It’s not likely your tick will return but you may need the tick for reasons we will explain later.

Third is the microwave.  I don’t know about you but the idea of using something I warm my food in as an insect crematorium makes me want to eat cold food all summer long.  The website points out there may be issues with putting the tick in a plastic bag and then placing it in a microwave.  It mentions tick blood and juices inside the bag may get inside the microwave, if the bag explodes.  YUCK!”

The first defense in tick protection is total tick control – call on a Central Mass tick spray professional!

Fourth is alcohol.  This may well work but may also will take some time.  Ticks can hold their breath a long time so you may want to get a cold drink and rent a movie if this is your method of tick termination. But again, remove the tick first and dispose of second.

Fifth is my favorite.  It involves releasing the tick harmlessly.  I knew my fellow animal lovers wouldn’t fail me.  This is the catch-and-release version of insect control.  The recommendation is to release the tick “a long way from your house”.  Releasing the tick into say, your neighbor’s yard, will likely mean you won’t see that tick again.  Ticks don’t crawl very far and have a limited home territory so you’re probably safe from that one.  Unfortunately, the newborn ticks that the released tick makes will probably find their way on your property within a year.  By then your neighbor may not be speaking to you and you’ll need to find another drop-off point to practice catch-and-release.

How to remove and dispose of a tick.

So what’s the actual best way to dispose of a tick?  First, before terminating it, you need to remove it from the skin properly.  Removing it properly will reduce your risk of infection and remove all the infected tick parts.  Follow these tick removal instructions!

Once removed, the next step is to seal the tick tightly in a clear plastic bag or an old prescription bottle.  Skip the microwave part.  Observe yourself for symptoms for at least the next 30 days.  It can take many tick disease symptoms, including Lyme Disease, that many days to appear.  Keeping any tick you remove from your skin in a sealed plastic bag will allow it to be tested.  Testing the tick, is the best way for your doctor to know what tick disease you may have.  Even partial ticks missing their head, legs, etc. can be tested for diseases.

Save your matches, microwave and grill for lighting fires and cooking this summer.  Ticks don’t need to be tortured for being ticks.  More importantly, removing and preserving your tick properly can go a long way to you receiving a correct diagnosis and being treated quickly.

Also read: Do not remove a tick with peppermint oil!

Dave Macchia Mosquito Squad square 2
Dave Macchia, Tick Control Enthusiast

Babesiosis in Central Massachusetts: A Danger to Dogs & Humans

Much of the discussion about tick-borne diseases in Central Massachusetts is centered around Lyme Disease. While Lyme is certainly a worthy subject, we would be remiss to not share with you important information about other dangerous tick-borne diseases which could be transmitted in Chelmsford, Cambridge and the surrounding area.

Babesiosis is the disease in question. A dangerous disease for humans and their furry best friends, dogs.

Babesiosis in Central Massachusetts Dogs

Babesiosis in Central Massachusetts dogs
The American dog tick

Currently, there is a large outbreak of Babesiosis in dogs in the United Kingdom, which serves as a reminder that it could happen here too. The Babesia canis vogeli, Babesia gibsoni and the Babesisa conradae are the three parasites that can cause Babesiosis illness in our canine friends. These parasites are transmitted to your dog through the saliva of an infected American dog tick, sometimes known as the “wood tick”. Removing an infected tick safely and promptly can prevent the transmission of parasites and other pathogens.

According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), symptoms of Babesiosis in dogs can include hemolytic anemia, anorexia, depression, fever, a pale complexion, an enlarged spleen or bounding pulse. Infected dogs can usually be treated successfully with an antiprotozoal medication, although late or undiagnosed cases could lead to death. If you suspect your dog has Babesiosis illness, see your veterinarian right away. The CAPC recommends treating your pets with tick control medication year round to lower your dog’s risks. As with all dog medication, follow your veterinarian’s advice closely.

Babesiosis in Central Massachusetts Humans

Babesiosis in Central Massachusetts
Deer Tick

Babesiosis illness in humans is usually caused by the parasite Babesia microti. Human Babesiosis is spread by deer ticks (black-legged ticks) rather than the American dog tick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Babesiosis in humans can range “from asymptomatic to life-threatening.” Massachusetts happens to be among the 7 states that account for 95% of the cases of Babesiosis reported in 2013.

While many people infected with Babesia microti never experience any symptoms, those who do may feel flu-like. Symptoms can include a headache, body aches, fever, chills, sweats, loss of appetite, nausea or fatigue. Some cases can cause hemolytic anemia which can lead to jaundice. Babesiosis can be severe and even life-threatening, especially in people who do not have a spleen, have a weakened immune system, the elderly or those with another serious health condition such as liver or kidney disease.

Babesiosis can be effectively treated with a 7-10 day combination therapy of antibiotic and anti-parasitic drugs. Be sure to see your doctor immediately if you suspect you may have transmitted Babesiosis.

Stay tuned for the latest on ticks in Central Mass. Be sure to follow the 6 C’s of tick control to make certain your yard is not inadvertently attracting ticks.

Dave Macchia, tick control enthusiast
Dave Macchia, Tick Control Enthusiast