Thinking about getting outdoors this long Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer? Perhaps hunting for morels or enjoying the trillium starting to bloom in the woods. Maybe even get in the first camping trip of the year.

Just remember, the outdoors has some hazards that have emerged with the warmer weather as well: ticks.

For Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Aspirus Health encourages individuals and families across the Upper Midwest to take steps to prevent tick bites and the serious illnesses they can transmit.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 89,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in 2023, reflecting a significant increase from previous years and a reminder of the growing public health concern.

“Anytime the ground is uncovered, we start to see ticks become active,” Ashley Johnson, a nurse practitioner at the Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center in Woodruff, Wis., said in a news release. “The warmer it gets, the more active they become.”

Ticks are present across much of the region and can carry serious infections including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, Powassan virus, and tick-borne relapsing fever. Deer ticks, also called black-legged ticks, are the primary carriers of Lyme disease, with their nymphs being especially easy to overlook and more likely to transmit infection.

To reduce the risk of tick bites, Aspirus recommends:

— Wear light-colored, protective clothing and tuck pants into socks;

— Use EPA-approved repellents such as DEET or permethrin-treated gear;

— Try natural repellents made with ingredients like cedarwood, clove, or thyme;

— Perform full body tick checks after outdoor activities, including on pets;

­– Use fine tipped tweezers to remove ticks gently and completely.

“When you remove a tick, you do not want to irritate it,” Johnson said. “If you squeeze the belly or try to burn it off, it could release bacteria into your body.”

Symptoms of Lyme disease can vary but often include fever, fatigue, joint pain, and rash. In some cases, symptoms can progress or persist if not treated early, Aspirus advised.

The Aspirus Tick-Borne Illness Center is one of the few centers in the region providing comprehensive care for both acute and chronic tick-borne illnesses. In addition to Lyme disease, the clinic treats a wide range of related infections and provides preventative treatment for recent tick bites.