If you've spent much time outdoors lately, it might seem like ticks have been worse than before. As it turns out, tick populations have been increasing as well as the number of reported tick bites and diseases.
Why are ticks becoming more of problem now? Here are the reasons why:
Climate Change
Yes, climate change is partly to blame for an increase in ticks. In the past, approximately 20% of the tick population would perish during winter months. However, due to increasingly warmer winters in recent years, this natural decline may no longer occur.
Ticks exhibit peak activity during the warmer months, typically spanning from April to September. With the trend of milder winters has resulted in an extended active period for ticks, granting them more time for breeding and locating hosts.
Increase in Deer and Mice Populations
Although it may not seem obvious at first, growing populations of other animals can cause an increase in ticks.
Ticks have the ability to feed on a variety of hosts such as mammals, birds, and reptiles. However, it is worth noting that deer and small rodents are especially prone to serving as hosts for ticks. In recent times, there has been a noticeable surge in the population of deer and mice, which has subsequently led to an upsurge in the tick population as well.
Tick Migration
Increased temperatures don't only affect the population die off in some areas, it also contributes to the migration of ticks.
Tick species originally native to southern states are now establishing themselves in previously uncharted territories further north. An example of this is the lone star tick, aptly named due to its origins in Texas, which is now observed in significantly more northern regions - posing a risk to a vast portion of the eastern United States.
Unfortunately, with the increase in population, it seems like the tick population isn't going away anytime soon. To see how to better protect yourself, see our article on tick prevention.