Tick bites on the rise: How to stay safe as you head outdoors

Tick bites are on the rise in the U.S. with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting that the majority of cases typically occur in the warmer months.

Tick bites could lead to many dangerous illnesses in humans such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and others. And while tick bites are typically a concern for hikers or those who spend time in wooded areas, certain species can be found in grassy areas or gardens. Pets that spend time outdoors are also at risk of picking them up.  There are several prevention measures the CDC suggests that may help keep ticks away, such as applying pesticides in the yard, removing leaf litter, clearing tall grasses and brush, placing a 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas, mowing the lawn frequently, discouraging unwelcome animals from entering the yard, and removing old furniture, mattresses or trash from the yard.