The weather is cooling down (we think…), which means us humans can return to the beautiful outdoors without the sweat factor! Fall is a great time to get outside and enjoy MetroParks’ trails, campgrounds, playgrounds, and so much more. The parks will see an influx of visitors over the next few weeks, which also means staff will see an uptick in phone calls and emails about ticks (pun intended!). Black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks, are a common parasite that are becoming increasingly abundant in our area. You’ve likely seen ticks during your visits outside, and we are here to answer some commonly asked questions about these hitchhikers so you can prepare for your next visit to the parks.

First, a little about ticks.

Ticks are small ectoparasites, which are animals that live on the outside of an animal and are dependent on that animal, or host, for food. Other ectoparasites you may know include fleas, lice, and mites. Black-legged ticks are one of the most common tick species found in Ohio. Although they fall behind the dog tick in terms of numbers, they are better known due to their notoriety as a vector (or transmitting) species for Lyme Disease. Black-legged ticks parasitize white-tailed deer, which are one of the tick’s host animals. After attaching to a deer for several days, they’ll feast on its blood and become engorged. Then the black-legged tick will drop off its host and return to the ground. However, black-legged ticks don’t just have a taste for deer blood; they also parasitize other animals, including humans. We aren’t immune to the tick buffet, unfortunately!

Why do I find ticks in the parks? I don’t see them at my house!

There are multiple answers to this question. Black-legged ticks are most often found in brushy, forested areas with leaf litter, their preferred habitat. They can also live in more open grassland spots near the woods and fallen leaves. We have an abundance of both of these types of habitats at the MetroParks. However, you can find ticks almost anywhere. Ticks turn up in manicured lawns, riparian zones (areas near water), and even in developed areas.

Ticks also love to feast on deer, other mammals and birds, which are abundant in our natural areas.

Why do I see so many ticks? I don’t remember ticks being a problem when I was young.

Continuous mild winters caused by climate change have led to an explosion in tick populations. Black-legged ticks are active anytime the temperature is over freezing, so there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year for ticks to be mobile and searching for a host. A drastic increase in local white-tailed deer populations also hasn’t helped our tick populations stay low.

Can’t MetroParks spray for ticks in the parks?

Unfortunately, we can’t. There are no tick-targeted insecticides on the market that wouldn’t also harm or kill the beneficial insects that help our ecosystems thrive. Our environment is dependent on butterflies, bees, beetles, and many more to help pollinate native plants, feed birds, bats and other animals, and help return nutrients back to the earth.

Do prescribed burns help control black-legged tick populations?

Burns conducted in the fall months can help control tick numbers in the short term. However, burns would need to be conducted annually in the same locations to have a lasting impact on tick populations.

How can I protect myself from tick bites?

Don’t let all of this tick talk scare you! We recommend a four-step approach to protect yourself from bites and enjoy a great park outing.

1. Wearing long sleeves and long pants can help reduce the exposed surface area that ticks have access to when you’re hiking.
2. Pretreating your clothing and gear with products that contain 0.5% permethrin can help repel ticks.
3. Certain insect repellents applied to your skin also reduce your risk of tick bites. For a full list of repellents, check out the CDC Tick Prevention website.
4. Check yourself (and your pets!) for ticks once you return indoors.

Looking for more resources? Visit:

–https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html

–https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/zoonotic-disease-program/animals/ticks-in-ohio

–https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/recreational-safety/ticks-in-ohio