Montanans, Beware: Tiny Ticks Are Bringing Big Trouble This Summer

With warmer weather settling in across Montana, many of us are ready to get outside, whether that means hiking the Bitterroots, gardening in the backyard, or enjoying a day by one of our beautiful lakes. But there’s a hidden risk lurking in the tall grass and brush: ticks carrying Lyme disease and other serious illnesses. And experts say their numbers are climbing.

What’s Going on With Ticks?

Each year, the U.S. sees more than 500,000 new cases of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, with the majority happening in the Northeast and upper Midwest. While Montana has traditionally had fewer cases than those regions, researchers are noticing some changes that could affect us here, too.

Yetrib Hathout, a professor at Binghamton University and director of their Tick-borne Disease Center, studies ticks closely to see which germs they carry and how those patterns shift over time. He points out that Lyme disease is just one of several illnesses ticks can pass along.

“Ticks don’t just carry the bacteria that causes Lyme,” Hathout explains. “There are other parasites and pathogens, like Babesia, that don’t respond to common treatments. Without an accurate diagnosis, doctors might miss what’s really causing the illness.”

Why Are Tick Problems Growing?

Two key factors help explain why tick-borne diseases are on the rise and why their reach is expanding:

Climate and Weather: Mandy Roome, who also works with the Tick-borne Disease Center, says ticks are now able to survive and stay active longer than before, thanks to milder winters. Ticks become active whenever temperatures are above 39 degrees, and with our winters warming, their active season stretches.

Changes to the Land: When humans build roads, farms, and neighborhoods, it can actually create perfect little homes for mice, which are common carriers of tick-borne diseases.

“By changing the land, we’re increasing habitats for ticks and rodents while pushing out the predators that keep rodent numbers in check,” Roome says. That means more mice, more ticks, and more chances for diseases to spread.

READ MORE: Miles of Dead Trees in Yellowstone: What’s Really Going On

What Does This Mean for Montanans?

While Montana isn’t currently the hotspot that parts of the Northeast are, these trends suggest we should stay alert. As ticks move into new areas and their seasons lengthen, the risk grows for anyone spending time outdoors.

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If you’re out hiking in the woods near Missoula, gardening in Billings, or camping in Glacier National Park, it’s smart to be cautious, especially when walking through tall grass or dense bushes where ticks like to hang out.