Finding a tick crawling across your floor, furniture, or clothing can be unsettling. But seeing one tick indoors doesn’t necessarily mean your home is infested.
Ticks can enter a house on pets, clothing, shoes, bags, or other outdoor gear. Dogs and cats that spend time outdoors are particularly important to check because they can carry ticks inside.
First, Don’t Panic
If you spot a tick, carefully remove it rather than crushing it with your bare fingers.
If the tick is attached to a person or pet, prompt removal is important. After removing an attached tick from a person, clean the bite area and your hands.
For pets, check areas where ticks commonly hide, including around the ears, under collars, between the toes, around the legs, and near the tail. The CDC recommends checking pets every day when they spend time outdoors.
How Ticks Get Inside
Ticks don’t usually establish themselves indoors simply because one was carried inside.
Common ways they enter include:
- Pets returning from outdoor areas
- Clothing worn in grass or wooded areas
- Backpacks and outdoor equipment
- Shoes and other personal belongings
Some tick species, including the brown dog tick, can infest indoor environments, so repeated sightings deserve more attention.
