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Warm Weather = More Ticks!

Discussion in 'Nature/Habitat/Garden Corner' started by OSimpson, Mar 8, 2012.

  1. OSimpson

    OSimpson Certified Master Naturalist

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    Warm weather could spell trouble with ticks

    By Joan Lownds
    Thursday, 23 February 2012

    After a spectacular opening act with the “Halloween snowstorm,” this season’s winter has mostly been a no-show . The warm snap has been a boon to the public works department — and for energy savings — but the trade-off could be a bumper crop of ticks later this year.

    “The mild winter is causing ticks to stay active, and they are not usually active in the winter,” said Dr. Kirby Stafford, state entomologist. “We may see an increase in tick activity in the spring, but next summer we will see the highest peak of risk — with possibly the most ticks we have seen for the past two years.”

    In 2010 there were 18 reported cases of Lyme disease in Trumbull. In 2009, there were 45 reported cases.

    During a typical winter, freezing temperatures and snow cover causes less active behavior among ticks, he said, although there is usually a certain amount of tick activity during a January or February thaw. This year, the continued mild temperatures are expanding this stretch.

    Also, Stafford said, the current mice and rodent population is “very healthy,” and this may also fuel a rise in the numbers of ticks. “Ticks in their immature stages feed on rodents such as mice and chipmunks,” and the robust populations provide fertile feeding grounds.

    In addition there are some tick treatment for lawns.

    Here is an example: Damminix Tick Tubes®

    PLEASE FIND MORE DETAILED INFO AT THE WILDLIFE HABITATS COMMITTEE'S WEBSITE.
     

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