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With weather turning cooler as fall approaches, it might be expected the threat of ticks would start to diminish. No such luck, apparently.
Marshfield Clinic Research Institute research has shown an autumn surge of deer ticks, which transmit Lyme and other diseases.
With people outdoors taking in the fall foliage, hunting or perhaps doing pick-your-own of the year's farm produce, that means being tick aware and taking preventive measures.
But the institute has another request: If a tick turns up (hopefully not attached), don't throw it away or otherwise dispose of it. They want it.
Really.
The Tick Inventory via Citizen Science -- TICS -- is an effort to identify ticks that are found in the Midwest, the institute states in a news release. This information can be used to assess risk of encountering a tickborne disease and to learn more about who is being exposed to and diagnosed with tickborne diseases.
The institute offers tick collection kits for submitting by mail. More on that later.
"Citizen-submitted ticks are one of the most valuable tools we have for tracking tick populations and the diseases they carry," Alexandra Linz, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute staff scientist, said in the release. "Every tick sent in for research helps scientists build a more accurate picture of public health risks and strengthens our ability to protect communities."
TICS was launched in 2024 under the leadership of Linz and current Sanford Research Senior Vice President and Research Scientific Officer Jennifer Meece. Since then, citizens have submitted more than 15,000 ticks for study. Originally just in Wisconsin, the study expanded to Bemidji, Minnesota, in 2025 and soon to Fargo, North Dakota.
The study's first significant finding was published in a pre-print paper in May that showed more than half of deer ticks tested by researchers were found to carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Deer ticks, also called black-legged tick, may only be the size of a poppy seed. They are commonly found in wooded areas and grasslands. They make contact as people brush past, latch onto their host and engorge in blood. In addition to Lyme disease, they can transmit the pathogens causing anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and several more tickborne diseases, according to the institute.
"The deer tick's small size and greater likelihood of carrying illnesses like Lyme disease is what makes it critical to perform tick checks after spending time in wooded or brushy areas," Linz said in the release. "Tick awareness is the first line of defense against tick-borne diseases. Understanding where ticks are found, how to avoid bites, and when to seek medical attention can significantly reduce the risk of illness for individuals and families."
Symptoms of illnesses resulting from a tick bite can include rash, fever, joint pain, and fatigue within several days to weeks. Contact your medical provider if you have these symptoms, Marshfield Clinic advises. Lyme disease doesn't always result in the classic bullseye rash, however -- best to bring the tick in a small plastic bag to your provider, if possible, according to Marshfield Clinic.
Awareness and early recognition of symptoms are key to preventing serious disease. Tick populations and tick-borne illnesses have surged throughout the U.S. in recent years.
To reduce the risk of tick bites, spray the insecticide permethrin on clothing, sleeping bags and tent fabric. Wear clothing that covers your skin. Finally, have someone help you check for ticks after time spent outdoors.
Back to the TICS project. Willing to participate in the research effort? For more information, or to request a pre-paid collection kit be sent to you, contact tics-MFLD@sanfordhealth.org or 1-715-389-7796, ext. 16462. Groups interested in having kits available for their visitors -- such as parks and nature centers, vet clinics, libraries -- also are encouraged to contact Marshfield Clinic Research Institute.
Once the tick, dead or alive, has been placed in the collection kit, just drop it in the mail to submit. Any tick found on people or pets is appreciated. Each kit will come with a unique identification number that people can use to look up, via an online dashboard, the species of ticks they submitted.
Another way to contribute: the Tick Inventory via Citizen Science-Lyme Experience Narrative Study, or TICS-LENS. This is aimed at encouraging individuals who have experienced Lyme or another tick-infection to tell their story, according to the institute. Anyone can share their story - a tick submission is not required. Responses will be anonymous, unless people want to share their contact information. For more information, go to redcap.link/ticslens.