by Chris Rose
WCSH-6 TV news story
AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — For the fourth year in a row, Maine has recorded a record number of cases of Lyme disease.
The disease is transmitted through blacklegged or deer ticks. Researchers said Maine has been experiencing a dramatic increase in the number of deer ticks due to climate change, warmer winters and wetter summers.
If you have found a tick on your skin or clothing the past few weeks, you’re not alone. They seem to be everywhere this spring.
“I’ll tell you now there are ticks galore here in the state of Maine,” said Pest Management Expert Jim Dill.
The large amount of snow we received this winter provided plenty of snow cover for ticks, leading to an increase in them throughout Maine.
“It was great for the tick population. Even though we had a really cold Winter we also had about two or 3 feet of snow everywhere and what that does is insulates the ticks,” said Dill.
With more ticks, particularly deer ticks, Maine has seen another record year for Lyme Disease. There were nearly 1400 cases recorded in 2014. Symptoms include headaches, fever and fatigue. If left untreated it can spread to joints, the heart and your nervous system.
