MILTON, Mass. — Now that summer is just around the corner, experts are warning that ticks will be coming back in full force.
One tick expert in New England told Boston's WFXT that the warmer weather will cause what he called a "tick explosion."
The tiny, pesky and possibly harmful arachnids are about to spring into action, and everyone should be extra vigilant.
"They're up and looking for a host hoping something will walk by that they can latch on," said Dr. Thomas Mather, aka "The Tick Guy."
Mather said this season is prime for ticks, and his website, tickencounter.org, shows the type to watch out for in New England this season is the deer tick because it spreads Lyme disease.
"It's very important because around here it's the worst for Lyme disease more than anywhere else in the nation," Mather said.
The website also lists high tick activity in most of the eastern United States, as well as the Midwest, Plains states and West Coast. Deer ticks are the most prevalent species in the Northeast and Midwest, while Lone Star ticks dominate in the Southeast and much of the Central U.S. Wood ticks are more common in the Mountain region, and Pacific Coast ticks are prevalent on the West Coast, the site said. Learn more here.
Stephen Novick of Boston-based FlyFoe said his business is extremely busy since the ticks never really went away.
"We had a mild winter, didn’t freeze too much, and because of that, the animal populations were active longer, and that enabled the tick populations to be active," he said.
Deer, chipmunks and rodents all carry ticks. Spraying is one way to keep ticks out of your yard.
You may even opt for a garlic-based, organic repellent or a store-bought pesticide.
"The pesticide is the lowest rated by the EPA, so it’s also super safe," Novick said.
The pesticide is used for flea and tick collars for pets.
Spraying has to be done once a month to keep ticks at bay, but for many it's the best alternative as it provides peace of mind.
Ticks usually hide in tall grass, so if you go hiking or walking in the woods, make sure to wear long-sleeve shirts and pants or get tick repellent clothing, use bug spray and always check yourself for ticks after being outdoors.
Checking for ticks is always important because if you happen to have been bitten, the quicker you remove the tick, the less likely it is that it will transmit any diseases.
– The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.
