Deer ticks can seldom bite through the fabric of socks, but what they can do is crawl over the top or through a loose knit and then bite the skin underneath.
If you find a tick on your ankle that was otherwise covered, you might reasonably wonder: did it bite through the sock? The answer is probably no, and it’s worth understanding why so you can avoid this fate in the future.
Ticks have small mouthparts that are designed to cut skin and anchor in it. They’re going to have a very hard time getting through woven or knit fabric by biting. But ticks are also very small and they can find other ways in. They can often latch onto a sock and then crawl up over the top and then get inside from there. A loose knit athletic sock can also let ticks in through the knit. This happens more often with nymphal ticks which are only about the size of a poppy seed.
Thin socks tend to be worse about this than thick ones. But that’s because the knit is looser, not because the fabric itself is thinner. Because of this, the best thing you can do is tuck pants into socks so there is no opening at the ankle. It looks silly, but it’s very effective if you plan on walking through the woods.
If you’re outdoorsy, you might want to also consider permethrin-treated socks, pants, and boots. Permethrin drops ticks on contact rather than just repelling them. That said, repellent works well too, particularly the kind with DEET or picaridin.
No matter what, when you go inside, do a tick check. Remove any ticks you find promptly, as doing so can greatly reduce your odds of contracting a tickborne illness.
If ticks are a problem on your property, Mosquito Squad of North Central Minnesota can help. Mosquito Squad treats the tall grass and shaded edges where ticks wait for a host. This will help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring cycle.
