TIMES RECORD • May 16, 2023
May is the perfect month in Maine for gardening, hiking, afternoon strolls — and the annoying surge of ticks. According to the University of Maine Tick Lab, last year, the university received 5,274 ticks from 380 towns in Maine to be tested for diseases, and 51.2% tested positive for at least one pathogen. “To protect yourself from ticks, create a barrier using protective clothing and EPA-recommended repellents such as DEET or picaridin. Clothing and gear can be treated with permethrin,” Dill said. “When returning indoors, be sure to check yourself, your children and your pets thoroughly for ticks.”