Ask the Expert Staying Safe During Tick Season: An Illustrated Guide for People and Pets Stories You May Like That Golf Course May Owe Its Lush Greens to Big Red Researchers This Entomologist Alum Wants You to Fall in Love with Bugs TikTok Star’s Eclectic Offerings Entertain—and Educate—Millions An alum and staffer at Cornell's Integrated Pest Management program offers some tips for warding off the tiny, bitey critters Editor's note: These visuals originally appeared in a LinkedIn post from the University. By Cornellians staff llustration by Shea Oleksa With tick season about to kick into high gear in the Northeast—and already well underway in other parts of the country—we offer some expert advice on how to keep from getting bitten (and, if all else fails, safely removing the wee arachnids). The insights come courtesy of tick expert Joellen Kozlowski Lampman ’90, a former natural resources major in CALS who's now a coordinator at the college's Integrated Pest Management program. Its stated mission: to "advance research and education on options to manage pests while protecting human, environmental, and economic health." Stories You May Like That Golf Course May Owe Its Lush Greens to Big Red Researchers This Entomologist Alum Wants You to Fall in Love with Bugs Published April 14, 2026 Comments Stacy Reiners 22 Apr, 2026 Would be helpful to add the name of the ticks to the pictures of the 3 ticks and maybe what diseases they carry. I found a tick on me 2x and it felt like a scab but I could not get it loose -1 side just was “stuck” and I realized it was a tick (on my stomach) and I could not pull it gently…that thing was attached and I struggled with getting it out – had to pull very very hard while pushing in on my skin. Doctor did not care that I had the tick in a baggie for him/her to look at to determine which kind it was. They did not want to send it anywhere either to figure out what kind it was. I wanted to know so I knew what kind was around my house. Oh well. Reply Kim Fisher, Class of 2006 28 Apr, 2026 Yeah, I don’t think doctors care about identifying ticks, unfortunately – some of them don’t even want to give you antibiotics if there’s no rash. But you don’t need a bullseye to contract Lyme or other diseases. If you live in the Northeast you likely had a deer tick, or a dog tick if it was big. Although a couple of other tick types are becoming more common in the Northeast now. Reply Joellen Lampman, Class of 1990 28 Apr, 2026 Hi Stacy, From left to right they are an adult female lone star tick, American dog (wood) tick, and blacklegged (deer) tick. You can find the illnesses they can cause on our website at https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/ticks/health-risks-associated-common-tick-species. We included a pdf of the information so you can bring it to your health care provider. Reply Bill H 28 Apr, 2026 How should pets be protected? Can human reoellants be used on pets? Reply Joellen Lampman, Class of 1990 28 Apr, 2026 Hi Bill, We recommend speaking to your veterinarian about the best options for your particular pet. We have a What’s Bugging You? video featuring Dr. Aly Cohen from the Cornell Riney Canine Health Center discussing flea and tick treatments at https://youtu.be/LfxZmCwm8xE?si=z1Gb-wN9LGAkzkS4&t=1034. As for using human repellents on pets, repellents are pesticides and we always recommend following the label instructions to ensure the product does what you want it to do. Reply Joellen Lampman, Class of 1990 28 Apr, 2026 For more information on protecting you and yours from tick bites and tick-borne illnesses, please visit http://www.DontGetTickedNY.org. Reply Linda Rhodes, VMD, PhD, Class of 1988 2 May, 2026 There are a number of products that are specifically designed to protect dogs and cats from ticks. Most are monthly topical medications, and there are also collars for dogs. Please DO NOT use human bug/tick repellants on your pets. Talk to your veterinarian about which products make the most sense for your pet. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Alumni Exploring Adolescence and Young Adulthood, One Episode at a Time Students Student’s Playful Paintings Showcase the Hill as You’ve Never Seen It Cornelliana Tune Your Radio Dial To … Fascinating Facts About WVBR!