ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — From parks and trails to neighborhoods, ticks are becoming a year-round concern. Scientists are seeing big changes in where and when people are being exposed.
“Over the last, you know, 20 years or so, we’ve seen a continued increase because of climate change. So it has been moving north to some extent and completing their life cycle faster. So there’s just more of them. Also, they are active year-round so you can get bit by a tick now most of the year, which is a difference from before,” said Dr. Maria Diuk-Wasser, Professor of Ecology, evolution, and environmental biology at Columbia University.
It’s not just wooded hikes or camping trips where you’re at risk, as ticks are thriving in more populated places, even cities, especially where people and nature mix.
How to protect yourself from ticks year-round
“Suburban areas are kind of the main area where you get ticks most and tick-borne diseases, mostly because people live in close proximity to forest. So that is I would say the prime habitat where there’s enough wildlife and people to get infected. However, in cities there may be relatively less ticks, but there’s a lot of people, so the probability of getting ticks can increase,” Dr. Diuk-Wasser said…