Tick Bites On The Rise In Kentucky
Pest Expert Matthew S. Hess
08/19/2025
“In 2025, the number of people seeking emergency care for tick bites reached the highest levels since 2017,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The situation is worsening as reported cases of Lyme disease continue to rise, and tick populations seem to be higher than usual. So, what’s happening?
Experts suggest that ticks are spreading to areas where people are less familiar with them and the risks of disease transmission they pose, creating a perfect storm. This lack of awareness likely contributes to an increase in tick bites, which in turn leads to more cases of tick-borne illnesses. To address this issue, we want to educate those who are unaware of the dangers posed by ticks.
Where Are Ticks Active?
Tick activity doesn’t occur just anywhere; specific conditions are necessary for them to thrive. According to the EPA, ticks that carry Lyme disease, such as deer ticks, are mainly active in areas where the temperature is above 45 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity is around or above 85%.
Most ticks prefer humid, moist, or damp environments, but they don’t thrive in overly wet or dry conditions. If you maintain a sunny, well-manicured lawn, the presence of ticks can almost completely vanish due to the dry heat. However, if you step just a few feet into a wooded, shady area where temperatures are slightly lower and moisture levels are higher, you may find a significant number of ticks ready to feed.
Changing Temperatures A Driving Force?
Throughout the millennia, the Earth has experienced changes that affect climate and temperatures. This ongoing transformation is what scientists now refer to as “climate change.” It was formerly known as global cooling, then global warming, and who knows what it may be called next. Nonetheless, fluctuations in temperature have always occurred, leading animals and insects to either adapt or perish. In cases where conditions are favorable for certain life forms, adaptation is often replaced by expansion, and that’s likely where ticks stand today.
Dr. Erin Mordecai, an associate professor of biology at Stanford University, has recently noted, “Because of increases in temperature that we’ve already seen, and because of human impacts on the climate, the temperature is already becoming more suitable for the transmission of disease here in the United States and North America.” While she is correct that rising temperatures are creating more suitable environments for disease transmission, she is mistaken in attributing this entirely to human activity. As previously mentioned, temperature fluctuations are a natural part of Earth’s cycles and have always influenced plants, animals, insects, and even humans. There’s not much we can do to affect the climate, and science has proven this over and over. What we can do is adapt to the changes like many other life forms do. In our case, this means learning more about ticks, the diseases they transmit, and how to avoid bites.
Although human activity may not be the primary cause of climate change, it is a contributing factor to the increase in tick bites. Humans alter landscapes worldwide, including areas where ticks thrive. Moving closer to these habitats or planting landscaping conducive to tick activity will undoubtedly raise the likelihood of tick encounters and subsequent bites. Living side-by-side with nature poses new risks we must learn to accommodate, avoid, and overcome.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is perhaps one of the most commonly known tick-borne diseases in America. Diseases such as Lyme disease, Alpha-gal syndrome, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are severe conditions that can significantly impact a person’s life. Lyme disease, for example, can be completely debilitating and cause a wide range of multi-system symptoms. It is primarily transmitted by the deer tick, also known as the black-legged tick. Infection occurs after a bite from the tick, as the saliva contains the pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, which enters the bloodstream and leads to Lyme disease.
As the disease progresses, it can negatively affect various parts of the body, including the central nervous system, heart, and brain. If not properly diagnosed and treated, Lyme disease can result in severe complications or even death.
How Does Lyme Disease Present Itself?
The common belief is that Lyme Disease always presents with a bull’s-eye rash at the site of a tick bite. However, this is not always the case. While Lyme Disease can cause a target-like rash, it is much more typical to see a pinkish or reddish rash that may lack the distinct bull’s-eye appearance.
What’s crucial is not the color or design of the rash, but whether it spreads over time. If a small rash appears but does not change in size, it is still advisable to consult a doctor. However, if the rash becomes more intense and enlarges, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. Additionally, if any unexplained rashes develop anywhere on the body following a tick bite, it is essential to seek medical advice.
As a tick-borne disease progresses, new symptoms may develop or worsen, potentially leading to complications. Without proper treatment, these symptoms can persist for months or even years. Therefore, do not solely look for a bull’s-eye rash; instead, be on the lookout for any rash on any part of the body, along with unusual symptoms such as a stiff neck, headache, heart palpitations, muscle pain, severe shooting pains, or fatigue.
Lyme Disease Rash, Early Stage. Note the “Bull’s-Eye” formation with the lighter interior color and the darker outer ring.
Won’t Personal Protective Measures Prevent A Tick Bite?
Yes… and no! Unfortunately, not all tick bites can be prevented with personal protective measures. While it’s a good idea to wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and tuck your pants into your socks, as well as use personal bug sprays, these actions do not guarantee protection against bites. A tick can still find its way onto your clothing and hitch a ride home with you, eventually gaining access to your skin. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take proactive prevention measures; in fact, they are essential for reducing your risk. It’s just important to remember that they are not entirely foolproof.
The best prevention against tick-borne illness is obviously to prevent the bite in the first place. However, diseases like Lyme do not transmit immediately with the bite. Therefore, limiting the time a tick is actively feeding can prevent Lyme disease even after the bite occurs. To minimize the spread of this disease, it’s crucial to remove the tick as soon as possible after a bite occurs, ideally within 24 hours.
In contrast, Alpha-gal has reportedly been spread through bites that were attached for very short durations. Therefore, reducing the feeding time (the duration a tick remains attached) as much as possible is a top priority.
Whether you’re in an area where ticks that transmit Lyme Disease or Alpha gal, or any other disease, it’s still important to practice routine tick prevention measures even though they aren’t guaranteed to work. If you don’t have any already, here are some helpful tips to consider:
- Wear More Clothing When Ticks Are Active – Ticks are searching for a blood meal. By limiting skin exposure, you reduce what they are looking for.
- Stay on Hiking Trail – When hiking, stick to the “beaten path.” Ticks engage in a behavior called “questing,” where they wait on the edges of grass blades, branches, and leaves for a passerby to brush against them. When this happens, they grasp onto the host and start looking for exposed skin.
- Treat Clothes with Permethrin-based Products – Several products are available for treating clothing against ticks. Be sure to read and follow the entire label for proper safety and usage instructions.
- Shower After Being Outside – Showering can help reduce the time a tick is on you, as it may wash off any ticks that haven’t yet attached. Use soap and your bare hands to thoroughly wash your body, paying special attention to areas where ticks might hide.
- Perform Tick Checks – Have someone help you check for ticks, especially in hard-to-see areas like your scalp, back, and behind your knees.
Following these tips can not only reduce the likelihood of a tick bite but also decrease your chances of contracting a tick-borne illness that could significantly impact your life.
What If I Find An Attached Tick? How Should I Remove It?
Ticks that attach to a host to feed on blood penetrate the skin and burrow in deep. Once attached, they start to expand as their bodies fill with blood. Removing a tick requires careful detachment to ensure that the entire tick, including its mouthparts, which may be embedded in the skin, is removed completely. Using a lighter or a cigarette to burn the tick off can cause it to become embedded deeper in the skin. Avoid using home remedies. Instead, use a pair of tweezers (or a tick removal spoon). Carefully grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, holding it tightly at the tip. Once you have a firm grip, gently pull on the tick to allow it to dislodge itself from the skin.
Once detached, ensure that the tick’s mouthparts are present. If the mouthparts are present, retain the tick in a safe manner to present to your doctor. It’s better to be safe than sorry! Be sure to stay in touch with your doctor until you receive confirmation that no disease transmission has occurred.
Why Does Four Seasons Care?
We believe that everyone deserves a pest-free life, and our mission is to make that a reality. Whether through our pest control services, which help support our business, or through our free educational initiatives, our commitment stays the same. We’re not just experts in pest control; we’re your partners in achieving a pest-free environment!
Several of our staff members have been affected by tick-borne diseases, so we understand the challenges that come after a disease-transmitting tick bite. Our goal is to prevent as many of these incidents as possible.
If you need tick control for your lawn, come see why everyone says, “It’s good to have Four Seasons on your side!”
And remember, it’s okay to live among pests… but you don’t have to live with them!
