Table 5.

Practices of Ohio-based producers (n = 57) that participated in a self-administered anonymous electronic survey regarding ticks and tick-borne diseases

Question	n (%)
Which of these personal tick bite prevention strategies do you use when going into areas that you know have a lot of ticks?a
Wear long sleeves and long pants	38 (66.7%)
Checking for ticks soon after leaving the area	32 (56.1%)
Using tick repellent (spray, lotion, or repellent-impregnated clothing)	29 (50.9%)
Shower and changing clothes soon after leaving the area	23 (40.4%)
Other	1 (1.8%)
No answer	2 (3.5%)
How often do you use these strategies when you are in areas that you know have a lot of ticks?
Always	12 (21.1%)
Often	33 (57.9%)
Sometimes	10 (17.5%)
No answer	2 (3.5%)
Which of the following methods do you use to protect livestock on the farm from ticks?a
Physical removal	24 (42.1%)
Insecticidal ear tag	22 (38.6%)
Spray	21 (36.8%)
Oral/injectable dewormer	20 (35.1%)
Environmental management (e.g. clearing brush)	14 (24.6%)
Pour-on	12 (21.1%)
Dust	9 (15.8%)
We don’t use any tick prevention methods	3 (5.3%)
Dip	2 (3.5%)
No answer	7 (12.3%)
How do you remove ticks from yourself or your animals?a
“Smother” the tick with nail polish, petroleum jelly, alcohol, gasoline, or other substances	24 (42.1%)
Grasp the tick close to its head/mouth using tweezers and pull straight out	21 (36.8%)
Grasp the tick close to its head/mouth and remove using a twisting motion	18 (31.6%)
Burn the tick with a match or lighter	12 (21.1%)
Freeze the tick	4 (7.0%)
Crush the tick before removing	1 (1.8%)
I have never removed a tick	1 (1.8%)
No answer	8 (14.0%)
Has the farm’s veterinarian discussed tick prevention strategies with animal caretakers on the farm?
No	10 (17.5%)
Yes, but not in the past year	8 (14.0%)
Yes, in the past year	25 (43.9%)
No answer	14 (24.6%)

^aSum of percentages may be greater than 100% because participants could choose more than one answer