The bugs are back in town
Between the fishing opener and Mother’s Day weekend, many Cook County residents are enjoying time outdoors.
However, WTIP lead tick reporter Kalli Hawkins said that she has seen an increase in tick activity in the past few weeks, and several other WTIP staff members gave eye-witness reports of ticks and mosquitoes taking advantage of the mild weather.
All joking aside, it does appear that the prediction of an early tick season has come true. Both ticks and mosquitoes have been sighted along the North Shore in recent weeks. As residents and visitors spend an increasing amount of time outdoors, being aware of the insect-related health concerns is important.
The prevalence of mosquito borne illness in Minnesota is lower than in tropical regions, though according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), there are several diseases that are known to occur within the state. MDH keeps a list of those diseases, including information on prevention.
A bigger threat to outdoor enthusiasts is the tick population in the state. Ticks in Minnesota are known to transmit a whole host of diseases to both humans and animals. The MDH maintains a list of common tickborne diseases. They recommend frequent tick checks for anyone spending time outdoors, and especially in wooded areas with underbrush.
The University of Minnesota Extension offers information on tick varieties across the state, which may be valuable for anyone planning on spending time in nature anywhere in Minnesota. This time last year, WTIP spoke with Jon Oliver, a tick researcher from the U of M, who talked about the risks of tickborne illnesses.
Ticks also pose a risk for pets, especially dogs. Dr. Amy O’Brien spoke with WTIP about the importance of protecting pets from insect pests. She explained that in the case of ticks, they are most active during the early spring and late fall months, when the weather is cooler. She also said that killing a tick quickly is important for preventing disease transmission. Some tickborne diseases can take more than 24 hours to spread to an animal, so early detection and removal, or killing with medication, is helpful.
WTIP’s CJ Heithoff spoke with Dr. Amy O’Brien about pet health during tick season. The audio of that interview is below.
As tick and mosquito season ramps up, residents should take precautions and familiarize themselves with best practices for prevention of exposure and removal of a tick in the even that they, a loved one, or a pet, are bitten.
Kirsten Wisniewski May 12, 2024
