In Illinois, tick season is starting earlier, lasting longer, and moving into new areas. Milder winters and earlier springs contribute to larger tick populations. Doctors report earlier cases of tick-borne illnesses than in previous years.
Ticks are not limited to heavily forested areas. Experts find them in city parks, green spaces, and suburban yards. Dr. Kelly Cairns, president of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, explained, “It’s not true that ticks are only something you’re going to encounter on a camping trip. Increasingly, that’s simply not true. Ticks don’t recognize city limits.” Usually, tick season spans April through September, but warmer temperatures from climate change mean ticks survive better and become active earlier.
Tick Survival and Activity
According to Patrick Irwin, lead entomologist with the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District, ticks survive better and become active sooner due to warmer temperatures. Ticks go dormant below 40 degrees and die below 14 degrees. This year’s cold snaps, paired with snow, insulated ticks from the cold’s full effects. Warmer temperatures in February, March, and April accelerated tick activity.
The Northwest Mosquito Abatement District recorded a nearly sevenfold increase in deer tick sightings this spring. Irwin noted, “With climate change, it seems like ticks are able to survive better and get active earlier than what we would usually see.” His team is conducting more suburban tick collection efforts.
Case Study: Early Tick Bites
Ann Miller, from Jefferson Park, found a tick on her dog Millie last year after visiting her mother’s home in Crystal Lake. Millie contracted Lyme disease. Though bloodwork showed she didn’t need antibiotics initially, she later developed symptoms like limping and lethargy. With antibiotic treatment, symptoms subsided.
Miller noted she reconsidered timing for tick medication. “She was at my mom’s house probably at the end of April, and I didn’t really think about starting the flea and tick medicine that early. I thought of it more as something for later in the summer,” she said.
Dr. Cairns emphasized the importance of early preventative measures, advising pet owners to check for ticks after outdoor activities and consult a vet if ticks are found.
Health Implications and Prevention
Ticks latch onto hosts by “questing,” waiting in vegetation to cling onto passing hosts. They thrive in shaded, humid environments like leaf piles, feeding on hosts’ blood for days. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports around 300 confirmed Lyme disease cases annually. However, many more go unreported as patients may not recall bites and early symptoms resemble the flu.
The CDC reported “higher than normal” emergency room visits for tick bites this April. Weekly rates saw record highs since 2017, except in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Laura Sislow, a St. Charles resident, experienced flu-like symptoms that led to a Lyme disease diagnosis nearly a decade later. The condition forced her to leave her career due to lingering symptoms like fatigue.
Tick-bite prevention focuses on wearing protective clothing, using repellent, and performing tick checks. Dr. Ihab Ahmed from Northwestern Medicine recommends dressing in light-colored clothing, tucking pants into socks, and using tape. He pointed out, “There’s no antibiotic for that.” The emphasis is on avoiding tick bites to prevent tick-borne illnesses.