Ticks in Michigan Are Expected to Be Even Worse This Year

It looks like Michiganders will once again face another brutal tick season.

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With the extremely mild winter, Michiganders can expect the threat of Lyme disease at an elevated level. I mean, back in March when it was technically still winter, experts were already warning us that ticks were active.

People who like to hike, do yard work, go camping, or simply enjoy being outside, are most at risk.

Of course, your pets are at risk every time they step outside and roll around in the grass or get into bushes or any other area where ticks thrive.

In Michigan, there are more than 20 tick species, but only a couple that you really need to be concerned with. The blacklegged tick (deer tick) is responsible for spreading Lyme disease. While the lone star tick is rare, it's a nasty and aggressive tick that can cause alpha-gal syndrome: a potentially life-threatening allergy to red meat.

I once found a deer tick trying to bury itself into my leg. I was doing typical yard work one day and didn't even notice it until after I took a shower. I went to itch my leg and thought I had a scab or something but quickly realized that a tick had attached itself to me.

There are a few things you can do to protect yourself.