On Naked & Afraid, you prepare for the big threats: lions, dehydration, and starvation.* But as Andrew Shayde learned the hard way, the most dangerous animal in the wild is often the one you can barely see.

During one of his most grueling challenges, Shayde faced a medical tap-out. The culprit? Ticks. And they didn't just bite; they found the most intimate, hidden spots on his body, leading to an infection that his survival skills couldn't fix. We’re back with another Shayde Survival Story, and this one is a real nightmare!

The science of the silent bite

Why is a seasoned survivalist like Shayde caught off guard by a tiny tick? It’s because ticks are biologically engineered to be invisible. Here’s how:

  • Numbing agent: Ticks inject a local anesthetic in their saliva. You don’t feel the ‘pinch’ of the bite, which allowed multiple ticks to hitch a ride on Shayde without him ever knowing.
  • Search for warmth: Ticks don't just latch on anywhere. They migrate to intimate areas where skin is thin and blood flow is high, like armpits, the groin, or even behind the ears.
  • Infection window: Once a tick attaches, the clock starts. The longer they stay, the higher the risk of Lyme disease, Alpha-gal syndrome, or the type of severe infection that ended Shayde’s journey.

If a professional survivalist can miss five ticks on his own body during a daily check, imagine how easy it is for a tick to hide on you or your dog after twenty minutes in the backyard.

The predator you never see coming

You might not be trekking through a Panamanian jungle, but to a tick, your backyard is a five-star resort. Unlike many other pests, ticks cannot jump or fly. Instead, a tick will crawl to the very tip of a blade of grass or a low-hanging twig and extend its front legs into the air. Using specialized sensory organs called Haller's organs, they can detect heat, carbon dioxide, and the vibrations of an approaching host.

When you or your pet brushes against that blade of grass, the tick uses its hooked front legs to snag onto your clothing or fur. From there, they don't bite immediately; they often spend hours wandering your body looking for thin skin and a hidden, warm spot to begin their meal.

How to spot ticks early

In the wild, a missed tick is a mission-ender. At home, it’s a health risk. Use these steps to check for ticks when you come inside:

  • Start at the bottom: Ticks crawl up. Check your ankles, behind your knees, and inside your socks first.
  • Check hot zones: Ticks love warmth. Scan your waistband, armpits, and the "delicate" areas that cost Shayde his challenge.
  • Inspect your hairline: Feel for small bumps behind your ears and along the nape of your neck.
  • Use the buddy system: Just like the show, use a partner to check your back and the spots you can’t see.
  • Check your pets: Check under collars and between paws. Pets are the ultimate hitchhiker transport for ticks.

Tackle ticks with Terminix

Survival is about the defenses you build before the threat arrives. Shayde survived the world's most extreme environments because he respects nature's power, but he also knows your home shouldn't be a survival challenge. While Shayde had to rely on a medic team in the jungle, you have a powerful ally for your backyard. Terminix provides professional tick control that targets ticks where they live and breed, creating a barrier that keeps ticks outside where they belong.

Andrew Shayde survived the world's most extreme environments, but he knows your home shouldn't be one of them—Terminix It.

*This is not an endorsement. Terminix is not affiliated with Naked & Afraid.