2021 Tick Forecast Cause for Concern

Ticks are a nuisance every year, but 2021 could be one for the record books. Forecasters are predicting this year, with warm and wet weather, will drive tick populations higher than normal.

According to pests.org, the Northeast is already a hotspot for Lyme disease, and that risk is expected to grow. The ticks that cause Lyme disease — the deer tick — are year-round residents of New England, thanks to the growing population of white-tailed deer. Early data shows Lyme disease rates are already up 6% compared to averages, possibly because of people’s increased time outdoors during the pandemic.

New England already has a significant tick population as a baseline, and with forecasters predicting that this summer will see warmer temperatures and more precipitation than usual, residents are advised to be ready for increased tick activity throughout 2021 but particularly from April to mid-to-late October.

Tick Season is Getting Longer

To add insult to injury, what is considered tick season is getting even longer. While there are certain parts of the year when ticks are more active — late spring, summer, and early fall — they are reproducing and looking for hosts even in the winter months.

For Massachusetts, ticks are now a year-round problem. The adult deer tick is the greatest threat since nearly 50% of them carry Lyme disease. But they are not the only tick that threatens New England. Brown dog ticks, American dog ticks, and Lone star ticks are also common in the Northeast and bring additional disease threats, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and more.