Eek! Take this quiz to protect yourself from ticks and Lyme disease

You know that sinking feeling. The one you get when you discover that new mole isn't actually a mole — it's a tick! Whether it's crawling on your skin or burrowing in for a bloody meal, this sneaky parasite has the power to repulse and spook even hard-core outdoor enthusiasts. And for good reason.

"They're responsible for transmitting the agents of several different diseases here in Minnesota," said Dave Neitzel, an epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health who specializes in tick-borne diseases.

So before you hit the trail, take our true-or-false quiz to test your tick IQ. Call it our version of doing a tick check.