Charlotte Reports Increased Tick Activity During Hot, Dry Weather Conditions

Ticks have surged across Charlotte in recent weeks. Hot, dry conditions throughout the Carolinas created ideal circumstances for these pests. Dr. Rafael Vieira, an associate professor at UNC Charlotte, partners with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation to monitor the local tick numbers.

"In the last two weeks, ticks have started to be more active and we are collecting more in the areas that we are sampling," Dr. Vieira said, per WBTV. His team scours public parks and preserves. They want to pinpoint which species live where and what illnesses they transmit.

Information gathered over eighteen months reveals no striking contrast between this season and last. When droughts hit, ticks burrow into soil, desperate for moisture that prevents them from shriveling up.

Dr. Vieira said ticks carrying Lyme Disease creep southward because of shifting climate patterns. "We are monitoring public parks and nature preserves, trying to identify where the ticks are, what kind of species they are so we can map them and what diseases they carry and the risks for the Charlotte population," he said.

Heavy rains could slash tick numbers. Why? The creatures they feed on won't roam as much when soaked, whereas warm, arid conditions keep hosts moving.

Carolinians should stay alert. Ticks bearing serious infections spread throughout the region, and the CDC warns of climbing bite cases as emergency rooms see more patients nationwide.

People can shield themselves by covering up with long sleeves and pants on trails or at parks. Stick to marked walkways and avoid wooded patches to cut down on contact.

Wear pale-colored clothing to spot ticks easier. Garments treated with approved insect repellent add extra defense against bites.