While about 8 to 12 percent of deer ticks

While about 8 to 12 percent of deer ticks are currently infected with Lyme in the Virginia Piedmont region, the number of deer ticks and reported cases are rising each year overall. Due to folks’ widespread adoration for fourlegged furry pets, ticks are frequently brought indoors, making access to humans a walk in the woods.

Lyme has been prevalent in Loudoun County and the Eastern Shore for some time, but the surge into southern and western Virginia is relatively new. Per Dr. David Gaines, a state entomologist and primary tick tracker, his hometown area of eastern Pennsylvania has exhibited a substantial increase since the 1980s. But not until January 2006 did he first see deer ticks on his grandfather’s Albemarle County farm.

“This is a strong indication to me that ticks and Lyme are continuing to spread south from New England,” he said.

Gaines said Maryland has seen a consistent increase in the tick infection rate in its Piedmont area, but the doctor warned that it is premature to conclude a correlation to Virginia’s future.

Still, some Virginia residents have seen a dramatic increase in the tiny tick infiltration.

“All I know is that there’s a whole lot more ticks around,” said Rappahannock County resident E.C. “Pete” Jenkins. “A real steady increase over the past 15 years.”

Several theories for amplified Lyme numbers exist, according to Gaines.

“Increased incidence and southward migration of Lyme is possibly attributed to suburban sprawling,” he said. “Clearing forests for housing enables growth of vegetation - grass, honeysuckle, prize azalea beds - which are food sources for deer.

“Thus, more deer, more ticks, more probability of Lyme,” Gaines continued. “However, there could also be greater awareness of Lyme, therefore more reported cases.”

Virginia state law mandates — without penalty for noncompliance — that doctors report Lyme cases to their local health district, which are