Ticks are slow crawlers and even slower climbers. The only way for them to spread to new areas is to hitch a ride on their animal and human hosts. Ticks live outdoors, but may be carried indoors, although rare. However, if they do get indoors, ticks may get a second chance to feed off humans and their pets. In addition to preparing yourself to avoid ticks outdoors, you can make them unwelcome in your home. When you return from a trek through tall grass, bushes or woodlands, the CDC recommends that you check pets and your clothing for ticks. Clothing may be washed and dried, according to manufacturer instructions, to remove any ticks you might not initially spot.