Ticks Make an Early Appearance After Mild Winter

Wednesday, March 13th, 2024 -- 9:00 AM

(Margaret Faust, Wisconsin Public Radio) Adult ticks, approximately half of whom are infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, are ready to feed earlier than usual this year.

According to Margaret Faust with Wisconsin Public Radio, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases at the University of Wisconsin-Madison started to look for ticks in February, almost two months ahead of schedule.

Experts said the results were not unexpected given the unseasonably warm weather. The arachnids become active when temperatures are above 40 degrees and there is a lack of snow cover.

Lyric Bartholomay is a professor in the department of pathobiological sciences at UW-Madison. She recently spoke with WPR’s “The Morning Show” about the early start to tick season. “It is sort of upsetting, right? Because it’s just so early,” Bartholomay said.

Rebecca Osborn, vectorborne disease epidemiologist at DHS, said the idea that tick season lasts from spring to early fall is outdated given the effects of climate change. “This early season is definitely a surprise,” Osborn said. “We need to reframe our thinking about ticks and imagine that ticks are really active anytime these temperatures are warmer.”

Despite the early season, Bartholomay doesn’t suspect there will be more ticks than usual this year. Experts also said it’s unclear if tick season will last longer or if more ticks will be carriers of Lyme disease.

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