Now is the Time to Check Ticks for Disease in Massachusetts

We are spending more time in the great outdoors as we deal with the stay-at-home orders and closed… well... everything. Reconnecting with nature is a great way to stave off boredom, keep kids occupied, and gain some peace. However, outdoor time also comes with the need for precaution. It is tick season, and they carry physical dangers.

Tick Testing Submissions on the Rise

Tickreport.com is sharing that tick submissions are on the rise in Massachusetts. From just over 300 in March to over 600 in April. The rise in submissions is NOT due to an increase in the tick population versus last year. But instead, a rise in human activity outdoors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March and April, 34% of the ticks tested have carried one pathogen, just over 8% have carried two. Almost 54% of all ticks tested from Massachusetts in two months carry a disease of some kind.

Borrelia, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, accounts for a large portion of those positive results. However, area ticks are carrying a variety of dangerous pathogens, including but not limited to Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Powassan.

Send Ticks in Now to Know What You May Be Dealing With

Dr. Stephen Rich, director of the Laboratory of Medical Zoology at UMass Amherst and TickReport.com, reminds us that by submitting ticks we pull off of ourselves or our family, we are preparing to help with our own diagnosis if we get sick. A whopping FIFTY PERCENT of adult deer ticks are infected with Lyme disease. Knowing what you are dealing with if you do have a tick encounter and later become sick, can help determine the action to take. Being able to tell your primary health care provider your symptoms, all the details of your tick bite, AND the information you have received from TickReport.com might allow a virtual visit to serve your needs. No one wants to spend time in the doctor’s offices unless it is absolutely necessary.

How Do I Submit My Tick for Testing?

TickReport.com makes it really easy. Testing only costs $50 per tick, and let us be honest, that is a lot less expensive than unwanted doctor bills. Step one: go to tickreport.com and place an order. Step two: put your tick in a plastic bag and mail it in (they suggest UPS or FedEx), and you will have results in 72 hours. Quick and Easy.

Dr. Rich says that ticks are very active on the edges of trails right now, but they are definitely not limited to those spaces. Depending on what surrounds your yard, you could have an appealing spot for them too, and they don’t discriminate. When you are out with your family enjoying the trails and forest, be sure to use repellent and conduct a tick check when you get home.

However, when you are home, enjoy fewer ticks with our tick control services. Mosquito Squad’s barrier treatment and tick tube systems eliminate 90% of ticks and continue to help eliminate future generations of them. The best way to avoid tick-borne illness is to avoid tick bites. We want to help you with that. Call today for a free quote.