Don't remove a tick with your fingers!
Ticks often carry dangerous pathogens that can be easily transmitted to humans and animals. Tick saliva and blood are vectors for these diseases and direct contact should be avoided when possible.
Don’t remove a tick with tweezers!
Pulling on an attached tick can result in amputation and leave its mandibles embedded in its host’s flesh. If accidentally crushed, the tick’s blood may enter the bite and further increase the risk of infection.
Don't try to kill a tick!
Traditional tick removal methods like the application of petroleum jelly, nail polish remover, or a lit match run a serious risk of agitating the tick. When agitated, attached ticks almost always regurgitate the contents of their stomach back into their host, significantly increasing the risk of infection.