Why you should practice tick safety, even during the winter months
By: Amanda Wallace
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... As colder weather settles in around New Jersey, creepy crawlers such as ticks may not be on residents; minds. However, Matthew Aardema, as associate professor of biology at Montclair State University, said it is a good idea to continue practicing tick safety throughout the winter months.
..... "Too many people assume that ticks are a summertime phenomenon, when infect our most dangerous ticks have become more active in fall and even winter here in New Jessey," Aardema said.
..... Several species of ticks are found in the state, New Jersey Fish & Wildlife says. ticks are an unwelcome parasite on people, pets and wildlife and can transmit illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Aardema said New Jersey's most dangerous kind is the black-legged tick, formerly known as the deer tick. It is a common vector of Lyme disease.
..... Though these parasites are commonly thought of as summer spaces, that is not alway the case. Depending on the temperature outside, ticks can be active throughout the winter months, continuing to pose a threat.
..... Ticks are not killed when the temperature drops below freezing, as many insects are. instead, these arachnids, which are well adapted to New Jersey's climate, become inactive when the weather cools, waiting for the temperature to rise so they can come back out and feed. However, with the warmer temperatures that we have been facing, ticks may be active and feeding at a time when they historically wouldn't have been.
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"I think there's this idea that summertime is the time when these ticks are going to be a problem, and we have to be concerned about them, when in fact it appears that they're becoming much more active, at least in New Jersey, in the autumn and even in the winter," Aardema said. "Basically, anytime the temperature is above freezing, they are able to move and attach to a pet or our pant leg ... and then eventually they can attach to our skin and start feeding."
..... The Garden State has had a warm fall this year, [2024] with the first week of November seeing temperatures "well above normal," said State Climatologist David Robinson. unseasonable insects such as gnats, mosquitoes and crickets have remained active later than usual, as October was measured at 2.1 degrees above normal statewide.
.... With temperatures continuing to rise, it is likely that unseasonable tick activity will, too.
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"When there is consistent snow, when there is consistently below-freezing temperatures, the ticks are not going to be active," Aardema said. "But as we see that New Jersey becomes warmer and warmer, there's far fewer snow events ... there's no snow, which is going to keep the ticks kind of in the leaf litter under the snow. If they're under the snow, they're not going to be able to bite.
..... "No snow means the ticks are able to crawl around and find the things they want to feed on, whether it's deer or our pets," he added.
Tick prevention during winter months
..... Being aware of the fact that ticks may still be crawling around during the colder months is the most important thing,Aardema said. "Just knowing that after you're gone for a hike or spent time in the year, even in December, January, February, if it's not below freezing, when you come in or even before you come in, check your pant legs, check your shoelaces and just make sure there aren't ticks that have attracted," he said.
..... Aardma also recommends that people continue taking preventive measures to keep pets safe, including maintaining a flea and tick collar, just as they would during the summer.
..... "I think just the biggest thing is being aware that ticks are still active during the winter and just being vigilant," he said. "checking oneself, kids and pets are a really big thing to consider.