Now, for those lucky enough to not know much about ticks, they are small, blood-sucking creatures that are not only a nuisance but can also spread diseases to both pets and humans. They’re like the uninvited party crashers of the natural world, except they bring along the risk of Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and a host of other ailments you definitely don’t want.

So, what do you do when you find a tick? The first rule of Tick Club: don’t panic. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. The goal is to remove the tick whole, without breaking it and leaving parts embedded in the skin. After taking off the tick, wash the bite spot and your hands with alcohol, iodine cleaner, or soap and water. Don’t squish the tick with your fingers. Get rid of it by putting it in alcohol, sealing it in a bag or container, wrapping it up in tape, or flushing it in the toilet.