Wildlife Ecologist Dr. Jennifer Mullinax Explains How to Stay Safe Outdoors This Summer
Black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks) are one of several species in Maryland that can spread disease from wild animals to humans. A UMD wildlife ecologist explains how to keep yourself safe as you venture outdoors in the warmer months.
Image Credit: Erik Karits/Pexels
Looking forward to roasting marshmallows by a campfire or planting a bountiful veggie garden? Look out for a little something ready to crash your fun: ticks, tiny, bloodsucking creatures are out in full force this time of year.
Assistant Professor Jennifer Mullinax, a wildlife ecologist in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology, is leading studies in Maryland to reduce tick-borne illnesses. She breaks down what ticks are, where they live, the risks they pose and how we can best protect ourselves.
What is a tick?
It is an arachnid, not a true insect, essentially a parasite that has to feed on a host to transition from one life cycle (larva, nymph, adult) to the next.
Where do they live?
They love brushy, scrubby stuff. Think of an overgrown edge of a trail, a power line right-of-way or a yard that backs up against natural areas—all of those are often full of ticks. The heaviest hotspot for ticks that spread Lyme disease is in the Northeast, but different types of ticks live across the United States, and their range is expanding.
