Ticks on the Rise: Help Scientists Study Them!

Scientists at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute are collecting ticks to learn more about these pesky creatures and the diseases they carry. So far, over 5,000 ticks have been submitted by the public through a research study called TICK Inventory via Citizen Science (TICS). This time of year, you might find more deer ticks. Deer ticks are small and can spread illnesses like Lyme disease. "It's important to check for ticks after spending time in wooded or brushy areas," says Alexandra Linz, an associate research scientist at the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute. You can also submit ticks found on harvested deer. These ticks are often near the eyes or ears. If you find a tick, dead or alive, put it in a collection kit and drop it in the mail. Each kit comes with a unique ID number that lets you check online which type of tick you submitted. The study started in central Wisconsin and has gotten way more ticks than expected. Most are American dog (wood) ticks and deer (blacklegged) ticks. The research team even found 13 rare lone star ticks, which can cause a meat allergy called Alpha-gal Syndrome. Collection kits are available at certain parks, nature centers, veterinary clinics, and Marshfield Clinic locations. If you're interested in getting a kit or want more information, contact tics@marshfieldclinic. org or call 1-715-389-7796 (extension 16462).