Author | Lightnews

Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · 3d

What happens when you forget your TICK CHECK? This!!! bit.ly/fallticks

Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · 4d

In the Fall, #TickSpotters gets the largest number of submissions on Mondays and Tuesdays. Why? Because of more people doing outdoor activities on the weekend, and not being reminded to do a TICK CHECK. Consider yourself reminded. bit.ly/fallticks

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · 22d

Depending on where you live or play, these are the ticks and likelihood of an encounter during October—the month when adult blacklegged ticks dominate, and it only gets worse...thru Thanksgiving! So, keep tucking shirts and pant legs, and check regularly. More TickSafe info - bit.ly/fallticks

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · 28d

TICKSPOTTERS: Use this first adult blacklegged tick of the fall report as a CALL TO ACTION. Adult blacklegged ticks are about to EXPLODE onto the scene. Here’s your to-do list: treat your pet, treat your pants (w/permethrin), and tuck in your shirt. More ways to stay tick-safe bit.ly/fallticks

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Sep 15

...very small, circular body form, 8 legs, long mouthparts, 12-13 festoons; possible trigger for AGS, not to mention ehrlichiosis; and the fastest tick around. If ESPN ever starts up tick racing, lone stars are a safe bet for the win! (they climb up under your untucked clothes pretty quickly, too.

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Aug 30

Even though summer is almost over, people are still encountering ticks. And nymph stage lone star ticks like this one are the most likely tick you’ll encounter through most of the southern and eastern states at this time of year. Click here (bit.ly/summerticks) to see what’s biting.

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Aug 19

LARVAE TIME. Aug/Sept is when the youngest stage of many types of ticks become most active. Thousands of 6-legged specks hatch from dime-sized clumps of eggs, and then they generally cluster together while they wait for a host to come by. Here’s a story of what can happen next (bit.ly/flipflopticks)

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Aug 2

Tick encounters tend to go down in August. That’s a relief after making it through the 3 “tickiest” months of May, June and July. But there are still ticks out there. Here are the ticks to look out for in August. It's also larval tick season, and they're hard to see. More info: bit.ly/tickspecies.

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Jul 28

If a 3-year-old can spot a tick and call it out, then you can, too!! I admit I’ve been training my grandkids to know a tick when they see one, and to know we need to get it off right away. Find a blog (bit.ly/TickGuy-blogs) about another tick on one of my grandkids and win a prize. Reply w/title.

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Jul 2

Here’s an insightful new article for helping prevent tick bites like the pros...
bit.ly/webMD_tickpr...

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Jun 29

In this situation, using a sharp or pointy tick remover is probably not a good idea. But a non-pointy slotted scoop might be safer. Check out our “Safe Tick Removal” info (bit.ly/safetickremo...)

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Jun 24

Here’s a TickSmart hack to help you find these tiny ticks_do it every day! bit.ly/tick-finding...

Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Jun 3

After a near-record high for submissions to #TickSpotters in May, we thought you might like to know which ticks to look out for in June. Want more info on any of these, we've got it here: bit.ly/tickspecies.

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Reposted by Thomas Mather

Ian Prasad Philbrick @ianprasad.bsky.social · May 1

Climate change and growing deer populations have helped ticks and Lyme disease proliferate in New England. Today’s @bostonglobe.com Starting Point explains how to protect yourself, featuring advice from @thetickguy.bsky.social and others www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/01/n...

Tick season is in full swing. Here’s how to stay safe. - The Boston Globe

Climate change and growing deer populations have helped Lyme disease proliferate in New England. But there are several ways to protect yourself.

www.bostonglobe.com

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · May 20

We always tell people to run their outsider clothes through a hot dryer for 10 min before washing, and this TickSpotters experience is why...

"found on damp clothing being removed from washing machine. alive and moving! Not expecting that."

Check out Tip #1 bit.ly/dry_then_wash

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · May 18

They're back and numbers are growing. Double down with your tick checks. These ticks generally latch on at shoe level and crawl up. Keep it from happening by spraying shoes with permethrin spray--let dry before wearing.
Protection lasts a month. We've got tips--https://bit.ly/all_things_TickSmart

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Apr 28

It's good to know what kind of tick was biting you to know the risk for any disease. Like this one doesn't transmit the germ causing Lyme disease, and less than 1 in 100 carries the germ causing Rocky Mtn spotted fever. Check out our tools to know your ticks. web.uri.edu/tickencounte...

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Apr 19

Here’s the backstory on this one... “felt an itch on my back. I went to scratch, and this tick fell into my hand. I have no idea when or how it got there”.

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Apr 13

It was right there...in the hair...yet never did I see it.
Until one day...when I washed and sprayed,
My darling, didn’t you feel bit?

About 50% of these ticks are infected with Lyme disease germs, and other germs, too!! These are the things that happen!!! Time to double down on tick checks!!!!

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Apr 12

Ticks change appearance as they feed. They’re often hard to notice for a day or even 2. But when they look like this 3-day fed tick, people have trouble believing they missed seeing it for so long. Just remember, it didn’t look like that even 12 hrs ago. What did it look like? bit.ly/tick_growth

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Apr 9

All your important tick questions answered—IN ONE PLACE!! TickSpotters, TickSmart prevention tips, and more! Click here to explore: linktr.ee/tickencounter

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Apr 5

Here’s something bookmark-worthy!!! With tick season coming into full bloom, we want you to have quick access to valuable Just-In-Time tick resources - for when you need to know. Try our new, free Linktree tool....everything thing you need in one simple link...Just-in-Time! linktr.ee/tickencounter

@tickencounter | Linktree

URI TickEncounter Resource Center promotes tick-bite prevention & education

linktr.ee

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Mar 30

The most common early Spring ticks are actually left-overs from Fall. Adult blacklegged ticks first become active in Oct/Nov. If they don’t find a host, they're not killed by cold. When it warms, usually in March, they try again. Test what you know about early Spring ticks. bit.ly/TickSmart_Qu...

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Mar 28

The TickGuy has a new, fun way for people to test their tick knowledge and get season-sensitive information to stay tick-safe. Try our TickSmart Quizlet flash cards today. And more to come! bit.ly/TickSmart_Qu...

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Thomas Mather @thetickguy.bsky.social · Mar 22

There are a lot of great products to help keep ticks from getting to this state, and NOW definitely is the time to start using one of them. bit.ly/pet_tick_con...

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