Farm and Dairy (Previously Published online with Farm and Dairy: May 1, 2023)
Backyard
lovers, campers, outdoors enthusiasts, and pet owners beware. If you thought last year’s tick season was bad, just wait. This year has the potential to be even worse.
Ticks — and the diseases they carry — are on the rise in Ohio and will likely continue to increase. There has been a steady increase in tick-vectored disease numbers in Ohio each year, and officials don’t expect to see a reverse of the trend, said Tim McDermott, an educator with Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
“While you can encounter a tick during any season, spring marks the beginning of heavy tick season, and this year, the tick population statewide is expected to continue to rise,” he said.
McDermott said there are multiple factors contributing to the increase in tick-vectored disease, including global climate change, tick range expansion, and increasing numbers of wildlife living in close proximity to people.
Continue reading Expect to See More Ticks Statewide this Season
The Knox County Master Gardener Volunteers received the 2021 Ohio State Master Gardener Outstanding Community Service Award during the Ohio State Master Gardener annual awards program. To be eligible for the award the project needs to help support the community and lead to a raised awareness of the Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Program.
