Summer in Vermont is a great time to enjoy hiking, gardening, camping, and other outdoor activities. It is also peak season for blacklegged (deer) ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and other tick-borne illnesses. Vermont health officials report that ticks are active whenever temperatures are above freezing, with the highest risk of exposure occurring during late spring and summer. 

Here are some simple steps to help protect yourself and your family: 

Dress for protection. Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot. When possible, wear long sleeves and long pants, and tuck pant legs into your socks or boots. A hat can also help keep ticks out of your hair. 

Stay on clear paths. Avoid brushing against tall grass, leaf litter, and dense vegetation. When hiking, walk in the center of trails whenever possible. 

Use an effective tick repellent. Apply an EPA-registered repellent according to the product label. 

Perform daily tick checks. Carefully check yourself, children, and pets after spending time outdoors. Prompt removal of attached ticks can reduce the risk of disease transmission. 

Shower soon after coming indoors. Bathing within two hours of outdoor activity can help wash off unattached ticks and provides a good opportunity to do a tick check. 

Dry clothing on high heat. Place clothes in a dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes after coming indoors. This helps kill ticks that may be hiding in clothing. 

Maintain a tick-safe yard. Keep grass mowed, remove leaf litter, and create a well-maintained buffer between lawns and wooded areas. Ticks prefer shaded, humid environments with tall grass and brush. 

Protect pets, too. Talk with your veterinarian about tick prevention products for dogs and cats, and check pets regularly for ticks after they have been outdoors. 

Practice sun safety. Summer outdoor activities can also increase exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, wear a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses, and seek shade during peak sun hours, typically between 10 am and 4 pm. Reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming or sweating. 

Taking a few preventive steps can help you enjoy Vermont’s outdoor season while reducing your risk of tick-borne illness and sun-related health concerns. 

We have several excellent bug repellents, sunscreens, and bug bite aftercare products at the Co-op; here are some of our favorites. 

Green Mountain Tick Repellent – 4 oz and 8 oz.

Lakon Herbals Bygone Hiker’s Friend bug repellent

Big Dipper Wax Works Citronella outdoor candle

Badger mineral sunscreens in creams, sprays, and sticks, ranging from SPF 30–50, with options for kids, babies, active, and daily use. Badger also has a great line of anti-bug balms, after bite itch relief, and aloe vera after-sun gel.

Quantum Buzz Away Extreme bug repellent

All Terrain Herbal Armor insect repellent

Yaya Bug Ban with Squito Ban bug spray, baby Bug Ban repellent wipes and spray and SPF 50 gentle mineral sunscreens for adults, kids, and babies.

Alba Botanica offers sheer mineral sunscreen sprays and creams for adults, kids, and babies in SPF 50.

Lily of the Desert aloe vera gelly soothing moisturizer.

Wayward Chickadee natural black fly balm.

Patch Bite Relief Spots for bug bite relief.

Protect your pets with Kikkerland Kobe tick removal tool.

We also have beautiful woven sun hats from African Market Baskets.