A recent CDC report shows that Babesiosis, a tick-borne illness, is spreading at a rapid rate in the Northeast and midwest. Although not as well-known as Lyme disease, it is essential to be aware of this potentially dangerous infection. In this blog post, we will delve into the world of babesiosis, exploring its causes, symptoms, and preventive measures. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of this illness and know how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

1. The Cause and Transmission of Babesiosis

As we move into the cooler, fall months many of us forget that Fall tick season is about to start.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

As people sit down for Thanksgiving dinner many will say how much they are Thankful for the food on their table.  For most people the center point of the meal will be a plump Turkey that was bought at the local market. These farmed, domesticated Turkeys are vastly different from the Wild Turkeys that people see wandering through their yards.  Surprisingly, those wild turkeys are actually acting as natural pest controllers on a daily basis. 

It’s that time of year again. The leaves are turning; many having already hit the ground, and if you're anything like the rest of us, you've probably put off cleaning up your yard until the last minute. All this procrastination means that leaf litter is left for prolonged periods of time and this can prove to be more detrimental than one might think. Below are a few reasons why fall clean-ups are important to get done....hopefully sooner than later. 

Get your baskets ready- it's apple season in New England! From apple cider doughnuts to hot apple cider, this is one of our favorite times of the year.

The Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) first appeared in the U.S. just one year ago in New Jersey has caused much concern among researchers. Over the past year the tick has been found in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Researchers believe that the spread of the Longhorned Tick to Massachusetts is inevitable.

What makes the Longhorned Tick different from others? and why should Cows, Sheep, Farmers be concerned?

Your yard can make a great home for several species of ticks. Deer ticks in particular that transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses are active from early spring through late fall in New England. Tick prevention starts with awareness. In order to protect ourselves and our family from ticks, we need to understand where ticks live in our yards.

Yes; ticks survive cold weather. They hide under leaf litter and other brush for protection and reemerge as soon as conditions improve. That means if the snow melts and temperatures increase even only slightly, ticks will be on the hunt again for a host. During the late fall and early spring months when the temperature is colder, we are dealing with adult deer ticks who search for larger hosts such as humans, deer, dogs, and cats. In the fall, the female deer ticks use this last blood meal in order to lay an egg mass containing thousands of eggs in the early spring. Property sprays that safely eliminate ticks are important to control the future population and are helpful in Lyme disease prevention.