If you've found and removed a tick, you've already done a great job. However, what you do next is just as important—yet many people get it wrong and unknowingly put themselves and others at risk.
Common reactions include crushing the tick between your fingers, flushing it down the toilet, or simply throwing it in the trash. While these actions might seem logical, experts warn that they can have hidden dangers.
Why Ticks Are Dangerous
Ticks are tiny spider-like creatures that bite into the skin of humans or animals to suck blood. While feeding, they can transmit harmful pathogens, the most well-known being the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Other illnesses, like tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), can also be spread by their bite. That's why quick and proper removal is so important.
The Problem After Removing a Tick
Many people believe the problem is solved once a tick is off their skin. But what you do with the tick after removal is critical in reducing your risks. Some people flush the tick down the toilet, while others crush it with their nails or a tissue. These methods can actually release bacteria or viruses. For example, when squashing a tick, dangerous germs may enter small wounds or cracks in your skin—especially around your fingers or nails.
Flushing a living tick is not foolproof, either. Some ticks survive and may still spread disease if they end up elsewhere in your environment. While it may sound far-fetched, in areas with high tick populations this can lead to persistent sources of infection at home.
What You Should Do with a Removed Tick
The safest way to dispose of a tick is to kill it first—without risk of contact. You can:
- Drop the tick in alcohol or disinfectant to kill it safely and then throw it away.
- Put the tick in a sealed plastic bag before disposing of it in the trash.
- Burn the tick (for example, with a match), while being mindful of fire safety.
- Alternatively, store the tick in a small jar, noting the date and where on your body you found it. If you become ill, a doctor can test the tick to help diagnose or rule out disease.
Why Keeping the Tick Is Sometimes Smart
It might sound unappealing, but keeping the tick can be helpful. If you develop symptoms—such as fever, fatigue, or a ring-shaped rash—within weeks after the bite, a doctor can use the tick to diagnose infections more quickly and accurately. Write down the removal date and the location on your body, as this information can be vital for your health.
Symptoms to Watch For After a Tick Bite
Not every tick bite leads to illness, but it's important to stay alert. Lyme disease symptoms may occur days to weeks after a bite, including:
- Redness around the bite (often in a ring shape)
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
TBE is still rare in the Netherlands but is increasingly reported. The symptoms often start like the flu and can later develop into serious brain inflammation.
How to Safely Remove a Tick
Prevention is best, but if you find a tick on your skin, remove it properly. Use a dedicated tick removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers. Pull the tick straight out, without twisting. Try to remove the head as well, without crushing the body. Clean the area and your hands thoroughly afterward.
If possible, remove a tick within 8 hours. The longer it remains attached, the greater the risk of disease transmission.
Why Do So Many Make This Mistake?
People often act out of habit or lack of information. Crushing or flushing away a tick seems quick and harmless, but the risks are underestimated. There's little public education about what to do after removing a tick, so unsafe habits stick around.
Also, convenience plays a role—a nearby toilet seems the easiest option, but "easy" isn't always safe. And with ticks, taking a shortcut can actually raise health risks.
How to Prevent Future Tick Bites
Prevention is always better than cure:
- Wear covering clothes in nature
- Use anti-tick repellent
- Check yourself (and your children and pets) after walking in the woods, dunes, or tall grass
- Wash your clothes at high temperature after a walk through brush or tall grass
Ticks are active from early spring to late fall, and even through mild winters. Regular checks are important.
A Small Mistake, Big Consequences
It might seem minor—what you do with a tick after removal. But it can make the difference between a simple nuisance or a long-term health complaint. Handling a removed tick safely and efficiently is easy and quick—and can prevent more serious problems. So: don't crush, don't just flush—kill or preserve it safely. In doing so, you protect not only yourself, but those around you.
Stay vigilant and treat every tick bite seriously. Because a small mistake after removing a tick really can have significant consequences.