Clark County residents submitted 25 ticks to the Washington State Department of Health’s tick surveillance tracker in 2024, marking the highest number of submissions in the county over the last five years. According to reporting by The Columbian, the increase comes as ticks expand their range into the western United States, a shift the outlet attributes to rising temperatures, though that specific cause could not be independently verified.

While tick-borne illnesses have historically been more common in the eastern U.S., the Washington State Department of Health notes that these diseases do occur in Washington and that tick populations are expanding. Summer is considered the peak active season for ticks, coinciding with increased outdoor activity and hiking.

Public health officials track these submissions to monitor the prevalence of different tick species and the potential risk of illnesses they carry. The data provides a measure of local risk as residents engage in outdoor activities in wooded or brushy areas throughout the region.

To reduce the risk of bites and tick-borne illnesses, the Washington State Department of Health recommends the following precautions:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents when outdoors.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants in wooded or brushy areas.
• Perform thorough tick checks on yourself and your pets after spending time outside.
• Shower within two hours of coming indoors to wash off unattached ticks.

Source: Learn how to protect yourself and your pets during tick season