WOOSTER, Ohio — Don’t set yourself up as a snack for a bloodsucking, disease-causing insect: That was the message from Dr. Gary Graham, Ohio State University extension educator from Holmes County.

He was one of three presenters at an informational meeting on “Lyme Disease and the Black Legged Tick” at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

“You need to know when and where to expect ticks,” he said. “The American dog tick can be found in high grass or leaf litter, while the deer tick and Lone Star ticks can be found in woody, brushy areas.”

He recommended setting up tick-safe zones around one’s property.

“Keep your lawn mowed, and remove leaves and brush,” he said. “Keep play areas for children away from woods and pastures where ticks are likely to be found. You may also want to consider putting a border of mulch or gravel between your yard and woods or pastures.”

He recommended using repellents with at least 20-30 percent DEET for humans and consulting with a veterinarian for recommendations for the dog and cat.

“Repellents should only be applied to clothing, never apply them to your skin,” he said. “Tuck your shirt into your pants and your pant legs into your socks or work boots. Wash and dry your clothes on the hottest cycle on your washer and dryer.”

Graham said it is important to do “tick checks” on pets and family members after they have been in a potential tick habitat, to prevent related diseases.

“Check often, at least once a day,” he said. “Check your scalp, ears, armpits, waistband and groin carefully. Black-legged ticks don’t care where they land on your body, but the American dog tick tends to attach on the head and neck areas.”

Graham said pets can carry ticks indoors unless they are checked daily. “Try and limit your pets to the lawn areas if possible, and treat pets monthly to prevent tick infestations,” he said. “Check your pet’s hair coat for ticks.

“Don’t use your bare fingers to remove the tick. Don’t crush, twist or squeeze the tick; it may by carrying a disease pathogen that can be transmitted to you or the host.”

Graham recommends using tweezers or a tick remover to pull the tick from the host, whether human or animal. “Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull with even pressure away from the skin,” he said. “Wash your hands and disinfect the bite location.

“Save the tick by placing it in a sealable baggie with a moist paper towel. Mark the baggie with when and where the tick was removed from the host and store the baggie in the refrigerator. If you have a rash or flu-like symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.”