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Take Tape to Trap Ticks

Q. I live near a national park and walk my dogs in the woods. There are ticks everywhere.
I stop and pull ticks off myself every few minutes, but I hate to just throw them back in the bushes where they will wait for me the next time I go for a walk. Is there an easy way to kill or dispose of them?

My dogs have been vaccinated against Lyme disease, but I understand there’s no vaccine for me. I surely don’t want to catch this disease!

A. Put on insect repellent containing DEET before you leave home. Spray shoes and socks and tuck your trouser legs into your socks. Carry a roll of Scotch tape in your pocket. Whenever you spot a tick, use the tape to trap it. Once it is sealed in tape it can’t escape.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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