We’ve been in the midst of tick season since spring, but July is actually the most dangerous month to encounter deer ticks. The reason for the high probability of encounters has to do with the deer tick’s life cycle.
Deer Tick Nymph Season
The deer tick nymph season starts in early June, then peaks in early July. Adult deer ticks tend to quest for hosts in May and June. The deer tick nymph season begins a bit later, in July. The small nymphs, actually smaller than a sesame seed, are difficult to see. Plus, their bites are painless. Unless you are doing thorough and daily tick checks, it’s very possible to miss a deer tick nymph.
Lyme Disease
The CDC says that there are 30,000 cases of Lyme Disease reported each year. That number is expected to rise as the deer tick season lengthens and its habitat spreads. The warmer weather associated with global climate change seems to be lengthening tick season and expanding the number of Lyme disease cases in the Northeast. Roughly 1 in 4 deer ticks can harbor illness and disease, so the threat is real.
It takes 36 hours for the Lyme pathogen to be transmitted to humans. If the small nymph is found and removed during that window, it is unlikely Lyme disease will be developed.
The Coming Months
The risk tends to diminish in August, once the deer tick nymphs are gone. By this point in the tick life cycle, the larvae are hatching. However, the warming temperatures could be impacting the life-cycle, so it’s best to stay alert. Typically by August, the deer tick larvae become active and do not pose a threat to humans. They are also not infected with the Lyme bacteria.
The nymphs that fed during the summer will molt to adult ticks in late September. The adult season peaks at the end of October and the risk of Lyme disease will again rise.
Prevention
By far, the best method of avoiding Lyme disease and a deer tick bite in general, is prevention. It’s a smart idea to consider pet and people friendly tick elimination methods for tick season. Human intervention is your best bet to keep deer ticks out of your yard and off of your family.
Also, if you plan to be outdoors, dress properly. Even though it’s hot out, you should still wear clothes that cover your arms and legs. Deer ticks like to sit in bushes and trees about knee-high and attach to hosts that may brush by.
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