Abstract: Forceps including a pair of closable arms having cup-shaped gripping members affixed to the ends of the arms and adapted to be closed upon and to grip the protruding portion of a tick or other parasite which is attached through biting engagement to the skin of a host animal. At least one of the gripping members is provided with either an electrical thermal element or a chemical agent applicator affixed to its inner surface and adapted, when applied to a tick or parasite, to cause the latter to release its bite whereupon it can be easily, hygienically, and painlessly removed from the skin of the host animal by a retraction force applied via the forceps.