Microscopic Ticks Are Everywhere in Maine

What the heck is going on with ticks this year in Maine? Because, we are officially freaking out. Many of us Mainers have been recently finding microscopic ticks on our animals.

It’s not just on the fur, it’s on any of the exposed skin like eyelids, lips, nose, or the bum. These little horrors are so tiny you can barely tell they are a bug. They look like dirt, but if you look closely you’ll witness their legs moving and that's how you know.  

After noticing more posts in local Facebook group pages, many of us are experiencing the same thing. What are they?  

Tiny Ticks, Big Problem: What Mainers Need to Know Now

After some research, I’ve uncovered that these blood suckers are tiny seed ticks or nymph ticks. Basically, newborns and almost impossible to spot.  

Tiny seed ticks are in the larval stage and have been around for 90 million years, according to Medical News Today. They are so tiny, they measure out to be 0.5–1.5 millimeters and are capable of attaching themselves to humans and animals, as per the article.

Nymph ticks are very small and according to WebMd, can spread tick-borne diseases.

Some tips to help are to always make sure you have your pet on some type of tick medicine like Nexguard.

Next, you can use a lint roller after walks or time in the woods and that will help you see them.  

Read More: Tick Population Explodes: How Mainers Should Protect Themselves

Make sure to check any exposed skin like your pets arm pits, between lets, toes, eyelids, gums, and private areas.  

To remove these buggers, use your fingers and squeeze because unlike adult ticks, they do break apart easily and you don’t need a lighter to pop them.  

Just make sure to avoid high grass and talk to your vet to grab some preventatives for all the stages of tick life.  

We can get this under control! But, boy is it gross.