Tick Season Begins in Massachusetts with Slower Start Due to Cool Spring

As temperatures rise in Massachusetts, ticks become more active, posing risks of disease transmission. The state experiences high tick density due to its climate. Snow cover during winter insulates ticks, allowing many to survive extreme cold.

Ticks produce compounds similar to antifreeze in their bodies to endure low temperatures, according to Dr. Catherine Brown, the state epidemiologist. The Boston Globe reported that while the cold spring has delayed tick activity, warmer weather will increase encounters between ticks and people outdoors.

Ticks are most active from April to August, with nymph-stage ticks in spring being small and harder to detect.

Adult ticks appear larger by late summer. The majority of tick-borne disease cases in Massachusetts occur between June and August. Ticks inhabit wooded and grassy areas, including leaf litter, tall grass, and bushes where wildlife such as deer and mice are present.

They also appear in backyards, parks, trails, and beaches. Dr. Brown stated that ticks can be found in most areas outside urban centers like downtown Boston.

The blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick, transmits Lyme disease, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, Borrelia miyamotoi infection, and Powassan virus.

Lyme disease remains the most common, with Lyme, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis together accounting for approximately 10,000 cases each year in Massachusetts. Tick-borne illnesses affect thousands of residents annually, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe flu-like conditions. " — Dr.

Catherine Brown (The Boston Globe) Most infections, except Powassan virus, can be treated effectively with medication. Powassan virus, though rare, can cause neurological damage. Cases of alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat and animal products triggered by the lone star tick, are increasing, particularly on Cape Cod and the Islands.