06/01/2026
Educational Post
NJ TICK ALERT: They are smaller than you think!
Check out this video this isn't a speck of dirt, it’s a tiny tick. Right now in Jersey, dot-sized ticks are out in full force. Here is what you are actually looking at and why they are so dangerous:
Deer Tick Nymphs: The size of a poppy seed. They carry Lyme disease, and because they are so tiny, they are responsible for most human infections.
Lone Star Larvae (Seed Ticks): The size of a strawberry seed or a pen tip. They don't carry Lyme, but they travel in armies of hundreds and can transmit other pathogens.
A Personal Warning:
I was bitten 4 times this weekend and had to call for antibiotics this morning. If you find a deer tick on you, you need to act fast. Doctors can prescribe a preventative dose of antibiotics, but you generally need to start it within 72 hours of the tick being removed for it to be effective. Do not wait for a rash to appear.
How to protect yourself and your animals:
Ticks don't jump or fall from trees. They chill on low brush and leaf litter, waiting for a human or animal to brush past.
Use Permethrin on your outdoor gear and clothes.
Wear long sleeves and cover your head when in brush or woods.
Keep your lawn short and clear of damp leaf piles.
Do a thorough, full-body tick check every single time you come inside.
Please share this to keep your friends, family, and animals safe this season.
From Soul and Soil Homestead
