The tick population has really exploded in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Entomologist Dr. Chad Gore tells the Big K Morning Show there are a number of reasons for this:
“We’re starting to see additional tick species enter the area,” said Gore. “I’m seeing more of the Lone Star Tick, than I ever had before and then there’s also invasive species that are eventually making their way here.”
He says the temperature and the length of the season are also partly to blame for the growing tick population.
Ticks carry Lyme disease, which affects both humans and animals.
And the warmer temps and rainfall are also to blame for the proliferation of mosquitos this summer.
“I think we’re all pretty familiar with the little wigglers that are found in standing water and anytime that that’s around, you have the potential for kind of a bump in the mosquito population,” said Gore.
Experts estimate there are more than 60 species of mosquitoes in Western Pennsylvania.