Tick Season Arrives in Lakes Area

Photo by Erik Karits on Unsplash

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM / MNN) – Tick season has been somewhat delayed, thanks to a cold, wet spring, but with recent warm temperatures the ticks have arrived.

It’s hard to predict how severe of a tick season it may be in the Lakes Area, but regardless, University of Minnesota professor Jon Oliver says insect repellents that work for mosquitoes will also work for ticks, so anything that contains DEET is a good bet for repelling ticks and any of the other EPA-approved repellents will work.

Oliver says deer ticks and American dog ticks are common in Minnesota and both commonly bite people and pets. Though both species can potentially transmit diseases. Deer ticks are more concerning because they are often infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. “If you’re in an area that has ticks, it’s important to check every day. It takes at least 24-hours normally for tick-borne diseases to be transmitted from an infected tick,” said Oliver.

Symptoms of early Lyme disease may present as a flu-like illness (fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea and joint pain).