It is important to take steps to prevent tick bites and to check for ticks after spending time outdoors. It is a common myth that ticks are not located in city areas or that ticks only live in the woods. Ticks can be found anywhere that mammals live. If you have pets, it is important to check them for ticks when they enter the home after being outside. If your pet is treated with tick prevention medicine, ticks can still crawl on your pet searching for a suitable host.
There are many old-time methods of tick removal that are not recommended. If you find a tick during a tick check, do not panic. Take steps to carefully remove the tick, store the tick in a sealed plastic bag, clean the bite wound, identify the tick, and watch for symptoms of tickborne illnesses. You may also mail the tick to PA TickLab to test for tickborne diseases.
Healthcare providers can help to identify tickborne disease symptoms and the correct treatment. The first step is to contact your primary care doctor.
Tick Identification
Erie County Department of Health offers free tick identification.
- To bring in a tick for identification, place in a plastic bag. Do not put tape over the tick.
- Bring to 606 W. Second St. from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
- After identification, education will be provided on the risk of transmission of Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses.
- Call 814-451-6740 for details.
Testing ticks for tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease
The Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab can test ticks for disease. Visit ticklab.org.
Lyme Disease
Tick bites can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, the most prevalent tickborne illness within Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and a “bullseye”-type rash in the majority of cases. If untreated, additional symptoms can include weakness of facial muscles, arthritis, heart palpitations, nerve pain or severe headaches.
More Lyme disease information from
Other Tickborne Illnesses
Lyme disease is the most common tickborne illness in Northwestern Pennsylvania, but there are other tickborne illnesses that can be spread by ticks.
- Lyme Disease
- Anaplasmosis
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever)
- Powassan Virus
- STARI
- Alpha-gal Syndrome
More information on diseases transmitted by ticks:
Prevent tick bites
Black-legged ticks (commonly referred to as deer ticks) are the size of poppy seeds. Due to their small size, they are often undetected. However, Erie County residents can continue to enjoy the outdoors by taking the following precautions using the T.I.C.K. reminder:
- Treat clothes and shoes with permethrin insecticide. Permethrin remains effective through several washes.
- Insect repellent. Use skin repellents with DEET or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Natural repellents may not work as effectively or may require additional applications. Check manufacturer’s instructions.
- Check for ticks.
- Take extra precaution in wooded or brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. Walk in center of trails.
- Before returning indoors, check your entire body using mirrors for tough-to-see places. Ticks often attach to warm, dark areas, including under the arms, in and around the ears, behind the knees, around the hairline, around the waistline and between the legs.
- Place clothes in dryer and tumble dry on the highest setting.
- Keep watch for signs and symptoms of tickborne illnesses. If you develop symptoms within several weeks of a tick bite, contact your healthcare provider.
Remove ticks
If you are bitten by a tick, remove the tick as soon as possible by using tweezers to pull firmly on the head of the tick in a steady, upward direction. Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
Tick information for healthcare providers and clinicians
Tick bites and tickborne illnesses are on the rise. Healthcare providers and clinicians are oftentimes the first contact after a tick bite. Information and resources, including clinical resources and continuing education for healthcare providers can be found here.
Long-term or prolonged Lyme disease in patients
While most patients with Lyme disease recover fully, a small percentage may experience prolonged or long-term Lyme disease symptoms or complications. Emerging research and treatment protocols to support patients, including continuing education and resources for healthcare providers caring for long-term Lyme affected patients may be found here.
Tick information for schools and camps
Children are at high risk for Lyme disease. It is important to educate staff, families and children on proper tick bite prevention, care and aftercare of tick bites. Here are educational materials and resources for educators, staff, nurses and families.
More information on ticks
Northwest Pennsylvania Tick Taskforce
The Erie County Department of Health participates in the Northwest Pennsylvania Tick Taskforce, along with Regional Science Consortium, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Mercyhurst University, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Pennsylvania SeaGrant and Penn State Extension.
By collaborating with these partners, we aim to more widely educate and inform residents about ticks and tickborne illnesses. Current projects include development of signage and educational material, research, tick identification and tick awareness initiatives throughout Erie County.