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By BIRGITT THORNHILL
Extension Agent
Virginia’s Tick Season
Virginia’s tick season is off to a stronger than usual start „ thanks to ideal weather conditions for the eightlegged creatures.
“The relatively mild winter we experienced, followed by a dry spring, has meant an increase in tick populations,” explained William H. Robinson, Extension entomologist at Virginia Tech.
Overwintering ticks have become active earlier than normal, so be on the lookout for the blood-sucking pests, he warned. Primarily found outdoors, ticks are likely to infest any person or animal that goes through grassy, bushy or wooded areas.
“In the past two decades, there’s been an increased awareness of tick infestations on people in Virginia,” said Robinson. “There has also been heightened concern for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This Virginia/North Carolina/Tennessee region is a real hotspot for the disease.”
92.9%