Wisconsin's early winter weather is no problem for ticks. They're still out in force, observers say
Melissa Siegler
After taking his 1-year-old springer spaniel, Jango, hunting last month, Bill Koepke and his girlfriend used a lint roller to remove dozens of tiny, blood-sucking insects.
"We filled five strips of a lint roller," Koepke said. "There were over 50 on just one of the strips."
Koepke, from Stevens Point, said he takes Jango hunting in central and northern Wisconsin, and he's noticed an influx of ticks.
He isn't the only one. Other Wisconsin residents have reported heavy tick infestations, well beyond the insect's typical season of May to September.
One variety of the parasite is more likely than any other to still be attaching itself to outdoors lovers and their pets — and it's also the most likely to be carrying Lyme disease. Deer ticks, which are most common to the state, will reach their adult phase and are still out in full force in October and early November. They can also be active through the winter.
Susan Paskewitz, chairwoman of the entomology department at the University of Wisconsin, said tick numbers throughout the state are equal to or slightly higher than last year. Numbers will increase in an area if there are more hosts, such as mice or deer, or if a region has received a lot of rain or is especially humid.
Parts of Wisconsin have set historic precipitation records this year.
The geographic range of several types of ticks is also expanding, according to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The American dog tick, also known as the wood tick; the lone star tick; the Gulf Coast tick; and the black-legged tick, commonly known as the deer tick, have all moved beyond their normal regions over the last few decades.
Researchers attribute the expansion mostly to climate change. However, factors such as host availability and habitat suitability, can limit how far certain tick species are able to expand, according to the study.
With the presence of a lot of ticks comes the risk of dangerous diseases spread by the insects. The deer tick is the No. 1 carrier of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
Wisconsin had about 3,105 cases of Lyme disease in 2018, according to the state Department of Health Services. Over the past 10 years, the average number of cases in the state has more than doubled — and the total number of cases is most likely much higher than what is reported.
The number of cases of tick-related diseases has increased nationwide, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 2016 and 2017 alone, the number of reported cases of disease blew up from 48,610 to 59,349.
Beth Macias, a veterinarian with Progressive Veterinary Services in Wisconsin Rapids, said the clinic has seen a significant increase in the number of pets with tick-borne diseases over the past few years. Progressive treats pets for Lyme disease the most, although staff members have seen an increase in the number of pets with anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis.
More:Deer infected with tuberculosis can pass it to hunters, CDC warns
How to protect yourself and your pets
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers tips for people who want to avoid or minimize contact with ticks.
- Wear long sleeves and pants in light colors so ticks are easier to spot. Tuck your pant legs into your socks.
- Don't wear open-toed shoes or sandals.
- Avoid contact with tall grass and shrubs
- Carefully inspect yourself and your pet after spending time outdoors, especially during peak tick season. If you find a tick, remove with thin-tipped tweezers. Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and be careful not to squeeze the insect.
- Put clothes through the washer and dryer. Ticks can survive a round in the washer, but can't handle the intense heat of the dryer.
- Use prevention products that contain permethrin, an insecticide that will repel ticks.
Macias recommends people use tick protection on their pets year-round, as well as having their pets screened yearly for tick-related diseases.
"Adult ticks are not killed by freezing temperatures," Macias said. "Even in the coldest regions of the U.S., ticks cans still be active when temperatures are above freezing and they're not covered by snow."
People also can protect their yards if they live near wooded areas. Creating a barrier between the woods and your yard using wood chips or gravel can deter ticks. Removing anything that can be used as a haven or habitat for the insect, such as leaf piles or grass clippings, will reduce the amount of ticks.
It's also important to make sure grass and weeds are cut frequently. Making it more difficult for other animals that could be acting as hosts to get into your yard will help with limiting exposure, as well.
If bitten, doctors recommend people monitor themselves or their pet for symptoms, such as fever, chills, aches and pains or a rash. A target-like rash indicates a person is in the early stages of Lyme disease. Early diagnosis of tick-related diseases can prevent further complications from bites.
Contact USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporter Melissa Siegler at msiegler@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Marie2Melissa.
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