A hand in a yellow glove over a box of insect repellent wipes.
A hand in a yellow glove over a box of insect repellent wipes.

Pi bon pwodwi yo tik-repouse pou moun ak chen

Oswa ki jan yo pwoteje tèt ou san yo pa tucking pantalon ou nan chosèt ou.

Summer has arrived, and with it increased risk of tick exposure. Places to watch out for include wooded areas and patches with tall grass and bushes, explains Dr. Goudarz Molaei, research scientist and director of the CAES Passive Tick Surveillance Program. It’s important to know that tick bites don’t just happen on the hiking trail. “Close to 75 percent of Lyme-disease cases have been reported from bites that occur in people’s own backyards,” Molaei explains.

There are some solid, science-backed ways to prevent the pests from latching on — as well as a couple of tools that’ll help you safely remove any that do break through your defenses. Here are the best tick-repellant products I found.

Continue reading to learn more about protecting yourself and your dogs agains ticks, written by Katherine Gillespie.

Medya Mansyone

Why use a plastic bag when you can simply screw on this end cap, specifically designed for Sawyer water filters?

Zooe Pòtay
Editor at Backpacker

Medya Mansyone

In future, I’ll use gravity when I can, and squeeze when I have to.

Richard, aka "LowRange
montè mòn

Medya Mansyone

For longer hikes, it’s convenient to carry a small backcountry water filter, such as a Sawyer Mini or Micro, which allows you to replenish your water from natural sources like streams or ponds.

Philip Werner
Author and Backpacker