Tick populations are getting worse. Minnesota health officials have documented an expanding range for the blacklegged (deer) tick, and those are the ones known to carry Lyme disease.
If it feels like ticks are more of a concern in Minnesota than they used to be, it’s not your imagination. The data backs you up here. The state's health department has tracked an increasing trend in Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. And that can be traced back to the larger territory that blacklegged ticks (deer ticks), which are known to carry the illness, now occupy.
Officials have noted rising tick activity statewide and an uptick in emergency room visits related to tick bites. To put this in perspective, consider a few stats. Roughly 1 in 3 adult deer ticks and 1 in 5 nymphs carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Most cases trace back to exposure in the east-central, north-central, and southeast parts of the state. It isn't only Lyme disease, either, as blacklegged ticks can carry anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and other pathogens.
The reasons why ticks are becoming more common can be traced to a few causes. One is the warming climate, with its shorter winters and longer summers. Another is that suburban development is increasingly pushing into woodlands where it previously was not.
The best thing you can do to reduce your odds of falling ill is to make tick prevention a part of your outdoor routine. Do a tick check after spending time outside. If you’re going somewhere untreated, use repellents with DEET or picaridin. And if your yard is tick-prone, consider professional treatment to reduce their presence.
If you're tired of worrying about ticks every time the family's been outdoors, Mosquito Squad of Twin Cities can help. Mosquito Squad treats the shaded, brushy edges where deer ticks wait. This can help you protect your family with up to 90% reduction in pest activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
