Posted in North Dakota May 11, 2019 by Leah

You Won’t Be Happy To Hear That North Dakota Is Experiencing A Surge Of Ticks This Year

Spring is here and that means being outside more and the return of pesky bugs. After an especially wet late winter the conditions are, unfortunately, just right for a surge of biting insects, especially ticks. With recent studies of North Dakota tick populations and the amount that carry diseases, it is especially important to stay in the know and take precautions against them. Here is some information about this upcoming tick season:

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After the late blizzards and subsequent rains and flooding, North Dakota is expected to see a higher than usual amount of ticks this season, according to the National Pest Management Association, or NPMA.

Due to these conditions, ticks will be arriving earlier than usual and there will be quite a few out there in 2019.

Ticks are already not uncommon here and most people don't give them much thought, but they could cause devastating effects. A study conducted in 2018 by the North Dakota Department of Health concluded that a higher number of disease-carrying ticks were found that year.

The most common ticks found in North Dakota are American dog ticks, which can carry and transmit tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Deer ticks had an increased population last year that will likely follow this year, and those can transmit Lyme disease, babesiosis, and other diseases.

The North Dakota Department of Health recommends taking precautions against ticks such as using EPA-registered insect repellent, avoiding tall grass and wooded areas, showering when you come indoors, and checking yourself and your pets over for ticks after being outdoors.

You can read more about the NPMA’s tick and bug forecast by clicking here, and more about the 2018 tick surveillance report, tick-transmitted diseases, and more at the North Dakota Department of Health page here.

There are quite a few creepy, crawly insects in North Dakota besides ticks. Here is a list of bugs you can find in ND, some of which deliver quite the sting.