An Up-Tick in Ticks

By Terri Estes

The spring and summer of 2025 has seen a huge increase in tick bites and tick born illnesses in both humans and pets. The reasons are unclear as to why there is such an elevation in the tick population and the illnesses that they carry, but the evidence is undeniable.

Our area is experiencing a particularly high spike this year in tick-related ER visits. Ticks can transmit various diseases and the number of these tick-borne diseases has doubled in the last 10 years. These diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Babesiosis, Erlichiosis, alpha-gal syndrome and Anaplasmosis.

The most common of these diseases is Lyme disease. Common symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, joint pain and swelling, and the most recognizable sign: the bullseye rash. Symptoms become more severe the longer a person goes without treatment. Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include fever, muscle pain, nausea, lack of appetite and a rash that usually develops two to four days after infection. Alpha-gal syndrome is a fairly new tick-born illness that is on the rise. People who acquire this tick-born illness develop an allergy to beef, lamb and dairy. They can suddenly develop hives and shortness of breath after eating these foods that they were never previously allergic to.

Areas of concern for tick infestation have always been wooded areas, and more rural settings, but this year, reports of ticks in more urban areas and even on beaches has become quite common. Ticks just seem to be everywhere this year. And this is surprising to researchers and scientists. Historically, when there is a warm winter, without much freeze, ticks are heavy the following spring/summer. This past winter had long periods of heavy freeze and very cold weather, so it was presumed that the tick population would be much more manageable, but this has not been the case.

Everyone should be vigilant and take measures to protect themselves, their families and their pets. These measures include wearing long pants in wooded areas and brush. Performing full body checks several times a day. Doing head to toe checks on pets often. Tumble clothes in dryer on high for 10 minutes after being outdoors to kill any ticks that may have attached. Consider using repellents containing DEET.

If you do find an attached tick on your body, use a fine-toothed tweezer to remove it. Discard it in a way that it can never bother another living thing. I generally flush them down the toilet.  Bye, bye, bad bug!