A tick-borne disease that can cause long-term problems is increasing in Michigan, but there are ways to reduce the risk when you’re outside this summer.
When you’re on your next hike, or even out in your yard, be sure to dress appropriately, use insect repellent and avoid tall grass to avoid a tick bite, the the Cleveland Clinic and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say.
Lyme disease cases in Michigan nearly quadrupled between 2022 and 2025, according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services — jumping from 553 in 2022 to 2,167 confirmed cases in 2025.
The disease, which is caused by borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, is carried by ticks and is spread among humans and animals through their bite.
Jean Tsao, a professor in the departments of fisheries and wildlife and large animal clinical sciences at Michigan State University, is because ticks are spreading to more suburban and urban areas of the state.
“Their populations are exploding in places where it is more populous with people. We’re seeing a steep increase in the abundance of ticks in much of southern Michigan, and that’s where the most people live Tsao said.
In the United States, the blacklegged tick (or deer tick, Ixodes scapularis) in the Northeast, North Central states, and Pacific coast is the primary carrier of Lyme disease.
If you’ve been bitten, remove the tick as quickly as you can and watch for symptoms or consult a health care provider.
Here’s what to know about tick-borne diseases this season.
How do ticks get on you?
Ticks live in wooded areas or tall grass, and may crawl on you and bite you while you’re walking in a rural area.
While you may not feel the bite, the parasites burrow into your skin and feed off your blood, and could spread bacteria and illnesses like Lyme disease, the Cleveland Clinic warns.
What keeps ticks away?
Following these tips from MDHHS, CDC and Johns Hopkins Medicine can help you avoid tick bites:
Ticks start low and crawl up, Tick Encounter at the University of Rhode Island says.
“Ticks do not jump, fly or drop from trees, they are down on the ground or low shrubs and after latching on, they crawl up until they hit a roadblock, like a skin fold, waistband or other clothing restriction, which then becomes a good spot to attach. Tucking pant legs into socks is a good way to keep ticks on the outside of clothing where they may be seen or get brushed off,” according to Tick Encounter.
What tick species live in Michigan?
Wood and blacklegged or deer ticks account for more than 90% of ticks found in Michigan. Here are five common tick species found in Michigan, according to MDHHS:
Why is it called Lyme disease?
The disease takes its name from Lyme, Connecticut, where the illness was first identified in the U.S. in 1975.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
The blacklegged tick is the most common carrier of the bacteria that cases Lyme disease. After its bite, it can take three to 30 days for a person to develop symptoms, according to the CDC. Long-term symptoms of untreated Lyme disease can be more severe and debilitating.
Those symptoms can include:
For people who develop the rash, it usually begins at the site of the tick bite and gradually expands. The redness sometimes can appear like a target or bull’s-eye. It might feel warm but rarely is painful or itchy.
How to tell if a tick has bitten you
If you’ve been bitten by a tick, you’ll typically see the parasite, a small, oval-shaped bug with eight legs, and light to dark brown to brownish-red color, depending on the species, burrowed into your skin.
Key areas to check for a bite are your scalp and neck, groin, behind the knees, belly button, armpits, around your waist, and in or around your ears, the Cleveland Clinic advises. The bite area may be bumpy, swollen or itchy.
What you should do if a tick bites you
If you or your pet get bitten by a tick, there are steps to take to minimize the risk of disease.
Remove the tick with fine-tipped tweezers, grabbing the tick close to the skin, the CDC recommends.
Pull the tick out with the tweezers, applying even pressure. Disinfect the bite area with hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol or soap and water after removal.
Taking a picture of the tick before disposing of it will help your primary care physician with identification and provide appropriate treatment options if needed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ticks are already out, but you can avoid illness with simple actions
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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