5 Common Tick Myths Debunked: How to Stay Protected from Ticks

UPDATE: Dr. Thomas Mather further discusses the common myth that ticks fall out of trees. Watch his update here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er1XzR7xC0U

One other tip, don't wear dark clothing. Light colored clothing won't scare ticks away, but makes it easier to see them so they can be removed from clothing.

About ticks in trees, I have walked under oak trees and had a tick land on my arm. Squirrels get ticks and fleas so they do sometimes fall from above they may not live there but they DO fall from trees.

A tick fell on my hat from a tree above. it felt like a tiny raindrop until it crawled under my ball cap brim. I've had ticks on me all my life; It was most certainly a tick and not something else. I know it's probably not common but it happened to me.

I got a tick on my head while walking my dog. I was no where near anything like tall bushes. But I did walk under some trees

Permethrin is your friend. I treat all my clothing with it and keep it treated throughout the year.

Have literally been down a trail that was “raining” ticks. It doesn’t happen often but it does happen.

I have worked in the woods, for over 40 years. I have come home with 200 plus ticks 2 days a week, for several months every year. I have 4 kinds of tick borne illness. I have SAT on the ground, and watched ticks fall out of trees, TRYING to land on me. I have WATCHED them. They usually don't climb very high, but out on limbs, and try to launch onto me. So, you are simply wrong about Number one. I have HEARD them falling, and watched them falling. If they fall from 6 feet up, and land on dry leaves, you can actually hear them hit the forest floor. They then begin to WALK toward you. I'm a land surveyor. Tick food Nate

As a birder, I have worn gaiters for many years. This is very useful for avoiding ticks, chiggers and fire ants. It is an easy and cheap solution for a common problem. Gaiters also keep burrs off of your shoe laces and prevent your shoes from becoming untied.

I would be interested to see what research you have conducted to conclude that ticks don't drop from trees, considering I have personally seen ticks drop out of low-hanging branches onto me. And I highly doubt that ticks are thinking about "the type of host they want to get on". I doubt a tick knows the difference between a coon, a dog, or a deer. They're all just targets of opportunity.

Oh baloney, ticks in trees isn’t a myth. Ticks ANYWHERE isn’t a myth. I’ve seen them on clothes line posts high above my head, on the tops of plastic garbage cans, on a hanging bird feeder. Whether their little tick brain said “Imma hang on that bird feeder and drop on that lady’s head when she comes to fill it”…or the bird brought it when it came for the seed DOESN’T MATTER. Ticks can be anywhere.

Got a warning in my email. It said "if someone comes to your door and offers to check for ticks if you undress and turn with your arms up, DO NOT DO IT. IT IS A SCAM. They just want to see you naked. I wish I got this email yesterday. I am so embarrassed!"

In 1971 I almost died and was in a coma for 2 weeks due to a tick bite, there was an outbreak of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the southeast and I was unfortunate enough to get it but fortunate enough to survive.

I have to comment about ticks not dropping out of trees. I am a lifelong wide traveling hiker camper and by far the most ticks I've ever had on me in one short walk involved sitting up on a branch 12' above the ground in a Willow tree. Minutes after sitting I noticed a tick drop on my arm. After doing a self check to see if I had more I found 5. The Woman I was with had a similar number. I'm just adding my two cents.✌🏼

My wife and I were at Chappaquiddick "Marthas Vineyard, the island is infested with ticks. Wherever we walked the ticks were attacking from the bushes and they fell like rain from the trees above us.

You might have a doctorate in a college, but you have obviously not been to Manatee State Park in Florida. The tick are definitely falling from the trees because they were falling on us many many times. We had to stay under our awning because of the ticks falling. And yes, they were absolutely ticks

I had a tick drop on me from a tree just two weeks ago. I didn't know they would climb that high.

Having lived in the middle of the woods in Arkansas, and cutting firewood, I was very familiar with ticks, and worse yet, chiggers. To work all day in the woods, I first put Avon Skin So Soft with a few drops of patchouli oil on my body. Long pants, long-sleeved shirt tucked in, work boots, and pant legs duct taped around the ankles. Then the DEET or permethrin sprayed on shirt and pants. You only stand on a chigger nest one time before you learn to prepare.

I have found ticks on my roof while painting eaves and trim. They are definitely in the trees.

I have to correct something here...17 years ago I was bitten by a black legged tick I had NO rash and after the tick was gone had a small spot maybe the size of a sesame seed and I never thought more of it...well about 6 months later I got sick and was diagnosed with lyme and damn near died... I was treated for 11 1/2 months with several antibiotics that finally pulled me out of that hell...my point is don't go by any rash if the tick bore into you and it was infected there's a high chance you will get lyme and trust me it ain't no picnic so go to your Dr tell them you were bit and get a week of antibiotic just in case...it's a cheap and safe way of making sure you don't contract lyme had I have done that I would have saved that year of hell and I was lucky because many never totally recover from this dreaded disease.