Ticks Are Here to Stay This Summer | Burlington News

Burlington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 4, 2026 · 1m

This summer’s tick outbreak is hitting record levels—ER visits for tick bites are at their highest since 2017, with Vermont’s urgent care centers seeing above-average visits weekly. Experts blame climate change and more outdoor activity for the surge, with blacklegged ticks (deer ticks) driving most cases of Lyme disease. Warmer temps mean longer tick seasons, while pandemic-era outdoor habits and rising pet ownership have increased exposure. Though American dog ticks are most common now, blacklegged ticks are expanding into new areas, and diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever are…