Wet, cool spring perfect for ticks

A Twin Cities metro area veterinarian says it could be well into July before people and pets get a break from ticks this season.

Dr. Houstoun Clinch, of Oakdale, says ticks are increasingly turning up in non-wooded areas, due to more wildlife.

"Between people going up north with their dogs bringing ticks back or the wildlife moving back into the neighborhoods. Everybody has deer and rabbits coming through their yards these days. We're seeing ticks in places we've never seen them in the last ten years," Clinch said.

Clinch said the wet, cool spring brought out more ticks early. But, he says, as the weather warms up, the pests could go into a "moulting cycle," which should cut their numbers dramatically.

Clinch says there are plenty of prescription and over-the-counter medications that do a good job of protecting pets from ticks.

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