Click Here

Clock Ticking on a Possible Pest Comeback

Ticks May Pose Danger

Ticks may be making a return to North Carolina.

Thanks to the drought, Carolina has had somewhat of a break the last couple years. With recent rains, however, that may not be case this year.

Veterinarians are getting a sneak peak at what this year's tick season may bring.

Routine pet checkups take on a different tone when the weather gets warmer.

“Once spring season starts to warm up, the ticks really come out,” veterinarian Lee Darch said.

Veterinarians say they've seen a " bloom"' in the tick population during the past two weeks. They have to be extra careful now when checking the spots on pets where ticks hang out.

About one dog, Darch said she “started doing his physical and noticed in his ears, even in his armpits, little auxiliary areas ... just hundreds of ticks already, just little tiny ticks.”

Vets stress prevention. Collars and medicine often do the trick.

Faye Atkins hasn't had her 4-month-old beagle for too long and doesn't want to waste any time keeping the pup healthy.

“As soon as they're old enough and the vet says it's time,” she starts prevention, she said.

It’s possible that family pets still have an ally on their side in the weather.

Ticks thrive in grounds that are moist. In the middle of a drought, North Carolina's terrain is anything but. It is less parched recently, however, and the drought's impact remains to be seen.

Still, area animal clinics still find themselves preparing for the tick numbers to rise.

“Now, the next few weeks ... we'll really start to see tick numbers increase,” Darch predicted.

The checkups continue, with vets and pet owners keeping a close eye on man's best friend man’s best friend’s worst enemy.

Ticks matter to humans, too, of course. Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are spread through ticks. Doctors say removing a tick early can help prevent the spread of disease.



4 Comments


Golo

Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.

You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.

View Comments View Comments

Report It
Send us your news photos, videos, tips and story ideas.
Submit Videos Submit Photos Submit Reports
  1. World News:  BERLIN WALL
    Photo: Fall of the Berlin Wall

    The 28-year-old Cold War symbol along East Germany's fortified border crumbled on the evening of Nov. 9, 1989, a pivotal moment in the collapse of…

  2. Bragg homecoming_01
    Fort Bragg homecoming

    The 82nd Airborne's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, or Panther Brigade, is coming home after a year-long deployment to Iraq. Families greeted 200…

  3. vet 01
    N.C. honors veterans with parades

    North Carolina honored veterans Saturday with annual parades in Raleigh and Fayetteville and a ceremony at the State Capitol building.

  4. APTOPIX Austria Weather
    Photos of the week

    The snow-covered Wilder Kaiser, part of the Alps, is reflected in Lake Schwarzsee in Austria. It's among the best photos taken by Associated Press…

  5. BRITAIN_ELTON__JOHN
    The week in entertainment

    A look at the top entertainment headlines this week through the lenses of Associated Press photographers.

Click Here