The Ticks Are Out: How to Protect Your Family from Lyme Disease This Summer
If you’ve lived in the South long enough, you know that ticks are just part of the landscape—like red clay, sweet tea, and humidity so thick it has its own personality. But in recent years, those little hitchhikers have brought something far more serious than just an itchy bite: Lyme disease.
And yes, it’s here in Mississippi.
We can’t afford to ignore it anymore. I know this firsthand—because I’ve lived it. Lyme disease became part of my story in 2022 after what seemed like a harmless walk near the woods during a photo shoot. One bite changed everything.
So today, I want to share the practical things you can do to help protect your family, your kids, and yes—even your pets—from this life-altering illness.
Treat Your Yard Like It’s Your First Line of Defense
Ticks love tall grass, leaf litter, and shady, overgrown areas. If your yard backs up to the woods or has any “wild” corners, you’ll want to clean those up first. Mow regularly, trim back bushes, and remove brush or wood piles where ticks like to hide.
If you really want to go the extra mile, consider creating a three-foot barrier of gravel or wood chips between your lawn and the woods. It’s like a no-trespassing sign for ticks.
Dress for the Season—Not the Fashion Show
Look, I know it’s hot. But if your kids are headed into the woods, tall grass, or even your own backyard, light-colored long sleeves and pants can make all the difference. Ticks are easier to spot on light fabric, and covering up limits their access to skin.
Don’t forget to tuck pants into socks. It might not win any beauty contests, but it sure beats battling Lyme disease.
Repel the Pests Before They Hitch a Ride
Not all bug sprays are created equal. Choose one with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus for exposed skin. For clothing and shoes, permethrin-treated gear is a great option (just don’t spray permethrin directly on skin).
Shoes are especially important. Ticks often crawl up from the ground—so protecting your feet is key.
Do Daily Tick Checks—Yes, Even on the Dog
Make tick checks part of your daily routine. After spending time outdoors, check behind knees, under arms, around the waistband, behind ears, and through the scalp.
If you have pets, check them, too. Dogs can bring ticks inside that end up crawling onto the humans they love most.
Don’t Wait to Wash
Throw worn clothes into the dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes before washing them. Heat kills ticks. Washing alone won’t do it.
And as strange as it sounds—showering right after being outdoors helps catch ticks early before they attach.
Ticks may be small, but the damage they can cause is huge. Lyme disease isn’t something you can brush off or hope away. It’s sneaky, debilitating, and life-altering.
But it’s also preventable.
Take it seriously. Do the tick checks. Spray the kids. Clean up the yard. It might feel like a hassle, but trust me—it’s a whole lot easier than dealing with the aftermath of Lyme disease.
From one Southern mama to another, let’s protect the people (and pets) we love most.
Stay safe out there.
