How to avoid being bitten by a tick - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

Undated (WXOW) - -Summertime is right around the corner and while you're spending more time outdoors, it's important to keep an eye out for pests.

Scientists say ticks will be plentiful this year, because of the moist, warmer winter we've just had.

Bugs like ticks can create a real problem, especially in areas where tick-borne illnesses, such as lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are more common.

Many ticks are so small they are hard to see, so it's always good to do a tick check on you and your kids.

Look for them after you've been in the woods, or in grassy areas and shower within two hours of being outdoors to reduce your risk of being bitten.

Also, check your clothing for ticks, along with pets that may carry them into the house.  If you find ticks on your clothes, place them in a dryer on high heat for at least one hour to kill the ticks effectively.

Lastly, if you're going into deep woods, use a spray, like deet, to keep ticks from clinging onto your clothes and skin.