Among the tall grasses and wildflowers that sprout each spring and summer lies a stealth predator just waiting for its chance at an easy meal. Ticks may be small in stature, but their impact on bite victims is potentially significant.

Lyme disease affects an estimated 476,000 people each year in the United States alone, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases.

To catch ticks before they latch on to you and your family, wear light-colored clothing outdoors. Long pants and tall socks, long-sleeved shirts, and hats also should be worn. It is easier to spot ticks on light-colored clothing, and covering up prevents ticks from gaining easy access to skin.

If you do find a tick, remove it quickly and correctly. The CDC says if a tick is removed in less than 24 hours from when it first attached, the chances of getting Lyme disease is very small. Remove a tick with fine-tipped tweezers as soon as it is noticed, being cautious to remove all mouth parts.

Repel ticks when possible by using a product containing DEET or permethrin.

And don’t forget pets. Prescription tick repellent products are available from veterinarians, and there are topical solutions and collars that can keep ticks away.