If you’ve always believed that cold temperatures kill ticks….well, think again.
http://thebark.com/content/ick-its-tick-my-dog
Fact: In most areas of the country, “tick season” runs from April to November, however, infection can occur any time of the year. For example, in the winter, some tick species actually move indoors, while other species make a type of “internal antifreeze” to survive during the winter months. This is often why veterinarians will recommend year-round tick prevention.
Tick guy, Tom Mather, shows how ticks survive in 3 degrees overnight under snow cover.
Personally, I have buddies pulling live ticks off their dogs in the middle of February in Wisconsin when it’s been below zero quite frequently.
Ticks are marvelous ecoadaptors and can survive the harshest conditions as long as they can find leaf litter in dry weather and snow cover in frigid weather.
And regarding all the clamor of “climate change,” independent Canadian tick researcher John Scott has proven it has absolutely nothing to do with tick proliferation and therefore the spread of Lyme/MSIDS: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/07/ticks-on-the-move-due-to-migrating-birds-and-photoperiod-not-climate-change/
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/13/study-shows-lyme-not-propelled-by-climate-change/ Warm winters are lethal to I. scapularis (black-legged) ticks. In fact, overwinter survival dropped to 33% when the snow melted.
So…..when people push the idea that warmer winters somehow make ticks more abundant you can explain with science on your side that warmer winters actually kill ticks.
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 