Health experts are reminding Wisconsinites that tick season is not over, even as temperatures cool and Halloween approaches.
Physician associate Erin Dawicki says ticks can remain active whenever temperatures are above freezing, and fall activities like playing in piles of leaves can increase the risk of exposure.
Ticks can spread Lyme disease and other illnesses. Wisconsin recorded a record number of Lyme disease cases in 2024, and the disease is considered endemic in every county.
Experts recommend wearing long sleeves, light-colored clothing, and long pants tucked into socks when outdoors. They also urge people to check themselves, their children, and pets for ticks after spending time outside.
Dawicki has also launched an at-home tick testing kit called Lyme Alert, which is designed to detect Lyme-causing bacteria in a removed tick and provide results in about 15 minutes.
However, health officials stress that testing a tick does not diagnose Lyme disease in a person or pet. A negative tick test also does not rule out infection.
Anyone concerned about a tick bite should contact a healthcare professional.
The reminder: Don’t put away your tick precautions just because summer is over. Ticks can remain active well into fall and winter whenever temperatures rise above freezing.
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