With spring comes glorious sunshine, warmer weather — and ticks.
Ticks and some insect pests can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites that may cause disease in humans. One in particular, the blacklegged deer tick (Ixodes scapularis), is well-known for its ability to transmit the Lyme disease-causing bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi .
For the most part, these ticks are inactive throughout the winter and begin to look for their next meal as seasonal temperatures warm up. But as the global climate warms, it is more likely that some ticks will remain active through the warmer winters and can expand their habitats into new areas.
Because of this, hikers and dog owners need to be watchful for ticks year-round to reduce the risks of getting sick.