The sand is safe. The walk to it is not always. Ticks live in grassy, brushy or wooded areas and are most active April through September, though exposure can happen year-round. On the South Fork that means the dune paths, the beach-grass edge and any trail you walk to reach a quieter stretch such as Hither Hills.
The steps below are short enough to remember. For a pet, keep dogs out of the dunes, which is also the best tick advice for a dog.
Before you go
- Treat clothing and gear with 0.5 percent permethrin, which stays protective through several washings.
- Use an EPA-registered repellent containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD or 2-undecanone. Do not use oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD products on children under 3.
- Walk in the center of trails and avoid brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
After you go
- Shower within two hours, which has been shown to reduce the risk of Lyme disease.
- Check under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, in and around the hair, between the legs and around the waist.
- Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes. If they are damp, run them longer.
- Check pets, coats and daypacks, because ticks ride into the house on them.
Dunes
Dunes and beach grass hold the shore in place and shelter nesting birds. Use the marked paths, and see the nesting birds guide for the 50-foot rule around posted plover areas.
For the cold months, when ticks are still around, see Hamptons Year Round on ticks and deer in the cold months.
Questions
Are there ticks on Hamptons beaches?
Not on the open sand. Ticks live in grassy and brushy areas, including dune paths and beach grass, and are most active April through September.
How do you check for ticks after the beach?
Shower within two hours and check under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, in and around the hair, between the legs and around the waist.