Warmer days are back, and that means ticks are, too.
Tick season is off to an early and potentially more dangerous start in parts of the country, with a higher percentage of ticks testing positive for Lyme disease.
In Connecticut, greater than 40% of ticks submitted to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station have tested positive. That’s not the case yet in Illinois, however, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
But Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses are always a risk, making prevention especially important.
Knowing what to look for is important, officials have previously said.
Ticks can be identified their oval or round body shape, with specialized mouthparts used for latching onto and feeding on hosts.
Several tick species live in Illinois; the most common are black-legged or deer ticks, the lone star tick and dog tick.
Most have three life stages so they can vary in size.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to prevent tick bites.
- Ticks thrive in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas..so you should walk in the center of trails
- Wear light colored clothing and tuck in your pants to minimize exposed skin
- Always do full-body checks after outdoor activities
- You should also shower within two hours of coming in
- Putting your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes will kill any ticks you might have brought inside
