The Growing Threat of Ticks:
What's to Blame?
Some potential causes include:
* Decreased environmental pesticide application *Reforestation
* Increased human involvement in forested areas *Climate Changes
*Wildlife conservation, relocation & restocking * Migratory Birds
A Year Round Threat:
Ticks are more than just a summer nuisance. These hardy parasites can thrive-and hunt-in temperatures as low as 40 degrees. The rising populations of ticks across the U.S. have led to an increased risk of exposure for many pets. Given the resilience of ticks, this risk can be high for many months of the year, even year-round in some areas.
Where Ticks Prey:
Ticks lurk in many of the places dogs love to go, including:
*Parks *Wooded areas
*Nature trails *Campsites
Even in urban areas, ticks can be brought into residential yards by hosts like white-tailed deer, raccoons, wild turkeys, coyotes, and the neighbors' pets.