FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Our mission is to educate and inspire everyone about deer in their environment.
To help fulfil that mission, we offer a variety of free educational resources that can be used in schools, other learning environments and at home.
Simply click on the resource you would like to download.
Don’t forget, we also offer free expert advice on all things related to deer in the UK. Just got to our Ask The BDS page to submit your questions!
BE TICK AWARE RESOURCES
Staying Safe From Tick-borne Diseases in the UK
Ticks can carry several infections and while Lyme disease is more common in the UK, there have also been recently confirmed a case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in England. So, preventing tick bites is the first line of defence.
USEFUL READING ABOUT TICKS FROM THE BDS
FAQs ABOUT TICKS IN THE UK
Ticks, especially the common sheep, castor bean or deer tick (Ixodes ricinus), are known to transmit a range of pathogens to humans through their bite. To avoid this happening, it is wise to avoid being bitten by ticks in the first place.
Ticks can carry a wide range of diseases and pathogens. In the UK, Lyme Disease is the most common illness caused by ticks. Recently though there have also been confirmed cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in England.
Read more: List of tick-borne diseases.
Most bites are likely to occur in late spring and early summer when tick activity is at it’s highest. They can bite you at other times of year as well though.
Learn more: When ticks are most active
There are several things you can do to help avoid being bitten. These include:
– use an insect repellent that can repel ticks and prevent them from climbing onto clothing or attaching to the skin
– wear long trousers and long sleeved tops to reduce the direct exposure of ticks to your skin
Read more advice about avoiding tick bites.
Anytime you’re out exploring nature, be it walking through a woodland, gardening, having a picnic on the grass or photographing wildlife on moorland, it’s recommended to do a quick check for ticks.
The safest way to remove a tick is to use a tick removal tool or fine-tipped tweezers.
Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, and taking care not to squeeze the body, pull upwards slowly and firmly.
Remove ticks promptly. Evidence suggests the longer they are feeding, the more risk there is of disease transmission.
If you have been bitten by a tick in the UK please be vigilant for Lyme disease or TBE symptoms particularly between 3 to 30 days after a bite.
Learn more: NHS Lyme Disease Information
MORE UK TICK-RELATED RESOURCES & INFO
- Free Leaflet: Enjoy the outdoors, but be tick aware!
- Free Poster: Enjoy the outdoors, but be tick aware!
- UKHSA: Tick Awareness & Tick Surveillance Scheme
- UKHSA: Tips and tricks to stay safe from ticks
- NHS: Overview of Lyme disease
- TickSolve - this project focused on environmental solutions to reduce the risk of current and future tick-borne zoonotic pathogens in the UK
- Lyme Disease Action: A charity dealing with Lyme disease throughout the UK.
- Country Living: Ticks on dogs
- Experimental infection of Columbian black-tailed deer with the lyme disease spirochete
- The ecology of infectious disease: Effects of host diversity and community composition on Lyme disease risk
- Dilution and amplification effects in Lyme disease: Modeling the effects of reservoir-incompetent hosts on Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto transmission
TICK REMOVAL TOOL - BDS TICK CARD
For just £5 you can support the work of the BDS and remove ticks quickly and correctly.
Looking for an easy and effective way to remove ticks? The BDS Tick Card is just what you need!
This handy credit-card sized tool is quick and easy to use, and safely removes ticks in a matter of seconds. It’s also great for removing bee and wasp stings, as well as thorns.
You can keep one in your pocket or wallet at all times, and be prepared for whatever nature throws your way!
PLEASE HELP US TO KEEP EDUCATING & INSPIRING EVERYONE ABOUT DEER FOR FREE
If you have found our free resources about deer in the UK useful then we’d really appreciate your support in helping us keep them free for all! As well as getting yourself a tick card, how else can you support our work?
