Two simple tools keep ticks away, say experienced foresters

Expensive tick repellents may not always be necessary when spending time outdoors. Experienced foresters recommend two everyday items that can significantly reduce the risk of tick bites in nature.

Tick season brings concern for anyone venturing into Estonian forests and meadows, but experienced foresters say that costly repellent products are not always the answer. According to seasoned woodsmen, two simple everyday items can significantly reduce the risk of a tick bite when moving through nature.

The first tool recommended is light-coloured clothing — wearing white or pale outfits makes it far easier to spot ticks before they reach the skin. Ticks crawl upward after latching onto a host, so tucking trousers into socks and sleeves into gloves creates an effective physical barrier that slows their progress and gives you time to brush them off.

The second everyday item is a fine-toothed comb or lint roller, which can be run over clothing and exposed skin after returning from a walk. A thorough check of the body — particularly behind the knees, in the groin area, behind the ears, and in the armpits — remains the single most reliable method of catching ticks before they embed themselves.

Forestry professionals emphasise that the combination of sensible clothing choices and a careful post-walk inspection costs nothing and requires no special products. While tick repellent sprays containing DEET or permethrin do offer additional protection, these two basic precautions form a solid first line of defence during the active tick season, which typically runs from spring through to late autumn.