Warm weather early this year and a mild winter in North Central Illinois has created the ideal situation for an increase in ticks this year. There has been a rise in sighting reports and there is no sign this will change anytime soon.
It’s important to be aware of this when visiting wooded and tall grass areas that are more likely to contain a larger amount of ticks. Several tick species found in Illinois carry diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, ehrlichosis and Lyme disease which is carried by the blacklegged (deer) tick. These can be serious diseases with long lasting symptoms.
Performing a few preventative measures will help lessen the likelihood and severity of a tick bite. This includes full body “tick checks” when exposed to heavily infested tick areas, using pest repellant that contains DEET, clothes that contain permethrin and walk in the center of wooded trails whenever possible.
Have further information about tick sightings this year? Leave a comment!