Tick Explosion in Illinois: Why This Year Is One of the Worst We’ve Ever Seen

If you've been hearing people say how bad the ticks are in Illinois right now, believe them. They are NOT exaggerating.

Illinois Tick Problems

In the last week I've been dealt some undeniable proof that ticks are REALLY bad in Illinois right now:

That is a jar full of ticks that someone pulled off their dog after taking a walk in a park...on a cleared path...not in tall grasses.

Spring may be prime tick season in Illinois and Wisconsin, but why are they SOOO bad this year?!?

READ MORE: Is Burning Garbage Illegal in Illinois?

Why Are Ticks So Bad Right Now in Illinois?

Illinoisans may have enjoyed the mild winters we've seen the last few years, but unfortunately, so have the ticks.

When the weather doesn't drop well below freezing for a long enough during the winter, hibernating tick populations don't die off,  and become a huge problem when they wake back up and venture out.

Changing land use always play a part in higher tick numbers. As we allow more land to grow "wild" to save pollenating insects like bees, we are also providing homes for ticks to enjoy and thrive. Not great.

Best Ways to Prevent Tick Bites

If you've lived in Illinois or Wisconsin long enough you know wearing long sleeves, pants, and hats is an absolute must when you're venturing into wooded or grassy areas.

Here's a chart of all the ticks found in Illinois, and the disease threats they carry from wildlifeillinois.org;

If your skin is now crawling like mine, and your considering never setting foot into nature again, just stop, breathe, and relax. Yes, ticks are definitely a problem, but if you protect yourself while outdoors and do tick checks as soon as you come back inside, you will greatly reduce of falling victim to any tick-related diseases.

For more information about ticks in Illinois or ways to protect yourself, please visit the Illinois Department of Health website.