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Best-Practice Tick Management for Working on the Farm

Why It Matters

Ticks are common in brushy field edges, tall grass, woodlots, fencerows, and livestock areas. Individuals working outdoors are at increased risk of tick exposure while performing routine agricultural tasks. Tick bites can transmit several illnesses affecting humans, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

West Virginia has seen increasing reports of tick-borne diseases in recent years, making prevention and awareness important for individuals working in agriculture, forestry, and outdoor environments (WVU Extension Service, 2023). Because many farm tasks require extended time working in tick habitats, consistent prevention and prompt tick removal are essential to reduce the risk of contracting tick-borne diseases.


Common Tick Species in West Virginia
Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick) – Ixodes scapularis

  • Blacklegged Ticks are the main cause of Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, and are often found in wooded or brushy areas.
Asian Longhorned Tick – Haemaphysalis longicornis
  • Asian Longhorned Ticks can transmit Theileria orientalis, a protozoal disease in cattle that causes anemia, weakness, abortion, and possible death. There is no approved treatment, and recovered animals may remain carriers. This disease does not spread from cattle to humans. Prevention through tick control and biosecurity is essential, as this is an emerging concern for cattle producers in the region.
American Dog Tick – Dermacentor variabilis

  • American Dog Ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and are common in grassy fields and along trails.
Lone Star Tick – Amblyomma americanum

  • Lone Star Ticks are common across West Virginia and can transmit ehrlichiosis. They are also associated with alpha‑gal syndrome, an allergy in humans to red meat triggered by tick bites (CDC, 2024; WVU Extension Service, 2023).
Ticks are arachnids, more closely related to spiders and mites, and have eight legs as adults. Ticks develop through four stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. After hatching from eggs, ticks must feed on blood at each stage to continue developing. Because they feed on multiple hosts during their life cycle, ticks can pick up and spread diseases between wildlife, livestock, pets, and people.

Ticks do not hatch carrying disease, and diseases are not passed from adult ticks to their eggs. Larvae hatch uninfected and must feed on an infected host to acquire disease-causing organisms, most commonly from small mammals such as mice and other rodents. Deer are often blamed for spreading Lyme disease; however, this is a false assumption. Deer do not infect ticks, but they play an important role in supporting tick populations by providing a host for adult ticks to feed and reproduce. Not all tick bites lead to disease, but awareness remains important for those spending time outdoors.

Nymph ticks are most responsible for spreading Lyme disease to humans because they are very small, active during spring and early summer, and often go unnoticed long enough to transmit disease.


Before You Head Out (Personal Protection)

Dress for defense. Wear long sleeves and long pants tucked into socks or boots. Light-colored clothing makes it easier to see ticks crawling on clothing before they can attach.

Treat clothing and gear with permethrin but avoid direct contact with skin. Clothing and outdoor gear may be treated with 0.5% permethrin, which kills ticks on contact. Factory-treated clothing or EPA-registered permethrin products may be used on boots, pants, socks, and outerwear.

Apply an EPA-registered insect repellent to exposed skin. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus can help reduce tick bites when used according to label instructions.


While Working

Stay on clear paths when possible. Ticks often wait on vegetation and attach when people or animals brush against tall weeds or leaf litter.

Conduct quick tick checks during breaks. Ticks may crawl on the body for several hours before attaching. Check behind knees, waistband, sock line, under arms, neck and hairline, and behind ears.


When You Come In (Tick Removal Routine)

Shower within two hours after returning indoors. Showering soon after exposure may help remove ticks before they attach and can reduce the risk of Lyme disease (CDC, 2024a).

Place work clothing in a dryer on high heat for approximately 10 minutes to kill ticks. If clothing is washed first, hot water (at least 130°F) is recommended (CDC, 2024a).

Inspect equipment and gear such as boots, tools, and backpacks that may carry ticks indoors. Inspect pets carefully after they have been outdoors, as they can carry ticks into vehicles and the household. Pets should also be checked regularly around the ears, collar area, under the legs, and between the toes, where ticks commonly attach.


If You Find an Attached Tick

  1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin. 
  2. P ull upward steadily without twisting or crushing the tick. 
  3. Clean the bite area and hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
  4. Save the tick in a sealed bag with the date and exposure location recorded.
  5. Monitor for symptoms such as fever, rash, headache, or fatigue for up to 30 days following a tick bite and contact your healthcare provider if symptoms develop. If a pet shows signs of illness after tick exposure, contact your veterinarian for evaluation and guidance.

Integrated Tick Management Around the Farm

  • Mow and trim vegetation in frequently used work areas.
  • Create gravel or wood‑chip borders between wooded areas and work zones (Cornell IPM, 2023).
  • Reduce wildlife attractants such as brush piles, feed spills, and unsecured grain that may draw deer or rodents.
  • Targeted pesticide applications can help reduce tick populations, especially when used alongside vegetation management and habitat control practices.

Livestock, Working Dogs, and the Homestead

Protect farm dogs with veterinarian-recommended tick preventives to reduce ticks entering homes or vehicles. Prioritize mowing and brush control along fence lines, laneways, and livestock handling areas where people commonly work around animals. Humans become infected through tick bites, not from direct contact with livestock; however, livestock can carry ticks that may transfer to people or other animals, increasing the risk of disease transmission.


Training and Recordkeeping

Agricultural operations should include tick awareness in safety training. Maintain a log that records the date, location, and task at the time of tick exposure to identify areas that need improved management.


Supplies Checklist

  • Fine‑tipped tweezers
  • Alcohol wipes or sanitizer
  • Sealed bags for ticks
  • EPA‑registered insect repellent
  • Permethrin clothing treatment
  • Disposable gloves
  • Mirror or phone light for checks
  • Clean change of clothes

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024a). Preventing tick bites. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024b). Tick removal and testing. https://www.cdc.gov/ticks

Cornell University Integrated Pest Management Program. (2023). Best practices for tick control on farms.

Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Find the repellent that is right for you. https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents

University of Kentucky Extension. (2022). Tick management for livestock and farm workers.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2023). Integrated tick management on farms and in residential landscapes.

West Virginia University Extension Service. (2023). Ticks and tick‑borne diseases in West Virginia.


Date Created (March 2026)

For more information contact: Brittany Leggett, WVU Extension ANR Agent

Brittany.Leggett@mail.wvu.edu; 304-636-2455. Extension.wvu.edu


Peer reviewed by:

Dr. Darin Matlick, DVM – WVU Extension Veterinarian

Dr. Carlos Quesada, PhD – WVU Extension Specialist