Ticks can attach from heights up to 160 cm, boots alone are not enough protection

High boots are not sufficient to protect against ticks, as the parasites can attach from vegetation as high as 160 centimetres, according to new research reported by Finnish broadcaster Yle.

A recent master’s thesis by Lauri Kylmänen at the University of Oulu found ticks on plants at heights reaching up to 160 cm—far above ankle level. The study, conducted in Oulu’s Hietasaari and Hailuoto, areas known for high tick populations, challenges the common belief that ticks only pose a risk near the ground.

Kylmänen collected ticks while wearing a white flannel coverall, discovering them attached even at head height. “I’d heard ticks could be found high up, but I’d never encountered them this high before,” he said.

Veli-Matti Pakanen, the thesis supervisor and university lecturer, confirmed the findings, noting he had personally observed ticks at heights of up to two metres in Hailuoto. He explained that ticks latch onto vegetation such as young tree shoots, grasses, and woody plants. If the vegetation is tall, ticks can climb higher.

Pakanen advised full-body protection, recommending smooth-surfaced clothing that ticks struggle to grip—unlike denim, which they cling to easily. Boots remain essential but are not enough alone.

The tick season began unusually early this year due to rapid snowmelt. Pakanen noted that in the Oulu region, many ticks may have already found hosts, reducing their numbers slightly.

The study did not find that ticks carrying Borrelia bacteria—responsible for Lyme disease—were positioned differently than non-carriers, though earlier research suggests disease-carrying ticks may behave differently.