Lots of deer ticks in my neck of the woods. They do have natural predators, but some years seems like it doesnt matter. Tick checking is a fact of life. You feel a tickle, you look. Go near brushy areas, you strip down when you're done and check. The best method is finding them before they latch on.
Ticks hang out in the edges of woodsy areas, along trails, etc ....on the branches or brush, or grass, etc... Keep those areas clear and you'll reduce the chances of getting one. I've found them under my recycle bins, trash cans, but I live in a very brushy area that's hard to keep really groomed
The nymphs are the real problem. They're so small that it's tough to even know they're on you. The adults are a bit bigger (still small), but more likely to brush pieces of hair on you so that you look at that spot.
I had a buddy who's dog contracted Lyme, and that dog was in rough shape for a while. Never the same again, lethargic, had arthritis that she didn't previously have.
I have a cat and we found a fully engorged tick on him. It looked like a kernel of corn, and was very hard. Our vet said to pull it out and not to worry, cats are very unlikely to contract Lyme, something about their immune system. He's seemed fine since.
There are tools made to help extract the tick. Little crow bars that seem to get good reviews.
Still, COVID is worse in ways. It's highly contagious, whereas Lyme disease can be prevented thru habitual checking. And COVID has been highly politicized, so a bigly number of fellow humans DGAF if they transmit it.