PITTSBURGH (Newsradio KDKA) - The Department of Environmental Protection is on pace to collect twice as many ticks as they did last year in their drag events, a tactic used to gather ticks to estimate their population.
If your in areas with tall grasses, or out with your pet, it's important to check for ticks right after the activity.
"They do something, it's called questing, where they put their front legs up and they really just latch on to whatever comes along," said Patrick McDonnell, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection of Pennsylvania, during the KDKA Radio Morning Show Thursday.
The secretary has some advice if you spot a tick on your skin.
"What you want to do is just get a good pair of tweezers, grab it as close to mouth as you can, and pull it straight up with even pressure," McDonnell said. "And then clean the area afterward with alcohol."
Listen to the interview above to learn more.