More than a third of Maine deer ticks carry Lyme disease

WINDHAM (WGME) -- A study from the University of Maine says 38.8 percent of deer ticks in the state carry Lyme disease.

The study also says that deer ticks have greatly increased in population and in geographic range in Maine.

The report adds that cases of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, like anaplasmosis and babesiosis, are also on the rise.

UMaine collected almost 2,700 ticks across the state for the study in 2019. About 2,000 were deer ticks, the most common tick and the tick species that is most commonly known to carry Lyme disease.

For Bob Maurais of Mainely Ticks in Windham, it's a reality of the times. He sprays about 1,600 properties a year to fight ticks, but says education is critical in protecting yourself.

Maurais says to stay away from tick habitats, such as tall grass and wooded areas. He also says to use repellents on both your skin and clothes, and to make frequent tick checks. He says that it was once more common to simply make a daily tick check, but it is far more valuable to make numerous checks after being outside, as some diseases can carry from tick bites in a short amount of time.

"Do a tick check immediately after outdoor activity, particularly if you have young children in your care," Maurais said.

Maurais said that children are often the most susceptible to tick bites, as are the elderly and pets.

Maurais says summer is the most common time for tick bites, but winter should not be ignored.

"Even people with companion animals, dogs and cats, stop treating animals in the winter months because they don't feel that ticks are a problem. That's a huge misconception," Maurais said.

Tick bites are less common in winter, but experts say as long as temperatures get above freezing, the ticks can remain active. They've had little trouble this season as temperatures have been warmer than average in Portland almost every day since Christmas, according to records from the National Weather Service.

Maurais says that is bad news for our upcoming tick season.

"Ticks are going to be out in force as soon as that snow is melted," Maurais said.

Maurais says that seeing more ticks is partially due to a warming climate, which could encourage ticks to move farther north and inland as well as better survive winters. He says that many other factors also encourage tick populations, like use of different pesticides over the years and humans moving into more tick-prone areas areas.

"It's not just a southern Maine or a coastal Maine concern now. It's a national concern. It's an international concern. So it's safe to say that ticks aren't going away anytime soon, and we have to modify our behaviors," Maurais said.

Click here to see the entire study from UMaine's Cooperative Extension. The 2019 study is a new effort from UMaine. The co-op is continuing to collect more ticks. If you are bitten by a tick, you can send it in to have it tested for disease for $15.