Tick-Borne Illness

Life Stages of TicksThese are some common species of ticks that are found in Dartmouth:

  • Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis)
  • Lone Star Tick (Ablyomma americanum)
  • American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

These three species, along with other tick species common to Massachusetts, can bite humans and spread a variety of diseases including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. For more information on tick species and tick-borne illnesses, we encourage you to explore the following resources:

Additionally, the Dartmouth Health Department's Fact Sheets and Links page contains fact sheets provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) on numerous tick-borne illnesses.

Prevention

  • When going outside to an area that is likely to have ticks,
    • Remain on the main pathways and center of trails as much as possible
    • Wear a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt and long pants tucked into your socks. This will allow you to easily spot a tick on your clothing and help keep ticks away from your skin
    • Use bug repellants responsibly
  • After being outside, conduct a tick check by checking these places on your body:
    • Inside and behind the ears
    • Groin area
    • Along your hairline
    • Back of neck
    • Armpits
    • Legs
    • Behind your knees
    • Between your toes
  • If you find a tick attached to your skin, use a pair of fine-point tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight out

This prevention information is taken from the Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences. Please visit the Tick-borne Disease Prevention website for additional information.