Central New York is Being Invaded by Ticks

We're only 3 days into summer and concerns about ticks and the diseases they carry are already making headlines. A SUNY professor specializing in the study of ticks says the pests are showing up in unusual places.

In a story reported by Upstate New York.com Brian Leydet, a professor at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, says he's finding ticks in mown lawn with bright sunshine. Ticks prefer dark and damp places, and Leydet theorizes there are so many of them they're being forced out of their natural habitat. Leydet added half the ticks he found in his back yard tested positive for Lyme bacteria. Here's more on the story.

Syracuse.com shared a video as Cornell Cooperative Exchange of Onondaga County do a backyard sweep of a Dewitt home and find 20 ticks in 15 minutes. June is just the beginning of tick season, so things will most likely only get worse as summer continues.

The EPA suggests using repellants that contain any of these ingredients:

• DEET
• Picaridin
• IR3535 Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
• Para-Menthane-Diol
• 2-Undecanone

For treating clothing and outdoor gear use products containing 0.5% permethrin. It remains protective even when washed several times.  The Environmental Protection Agency has an online tool to help you select the repellent that is best for you and your family.