What is an effective tick prevention strategy?

• A. Long sleeves, repellents
• B. Spraying with pesticide
• C. Eating herbal supplements
• D. Rubbing lemon juice on skin

Answer: (A)

Preventing tick bites starts with reducing skin exposure and creating a barrier ticks don’t want to cross. Wearing long sleeves and other protective clothing keeps more skin covered while you paddle through tall grass or brush, making it harder for ticks to reach you. Pairing that clothing protection with a repellent that's approved for ticks—such as DEET or picaridin—adds a chemical barrier that ticks will avoid, further lowering your risk. If you can, treating clothing with permethrin adds another layer of protection because ticks that contact the fabric are less likely to bite. After time on the water, do a thorough tick check and shower soon after to remove any that may be on you. Other options aren’t reliable or safe: applying pesticides to the skin isn’t recommended, herbal supplements have no proven protective effect, and lemon juice doesn’t deter ticks.