Ticks Increasing on Northern California’s Beaches
If you think wooded or grassy areas are the only places where you need to worry about ticks on the west coast, think again. A four-year study of Lyme disease ticks in California has revealed an unusually high number of ticks on and near beaches.
The study focused on several Northern California coastal counties and surveyed around 3,000 Western blacklegged ticks, the ticks responsible for spreading Lyme disease in California, the Pacific Northwest, and parts of the American Southwest.
While it is unsurprising that ticks would thrive in coastal counties, since ticks need warm weather and humidity, researchers in the study are not sure what animal is responsible for spreading the ticks to beaches. Lyme disease ticks in California prefer to feed on mammals such as the western gray squirrel, which is not commonly found in beach scrub.
One thing researchers are not unsure about is the fact that these findings are part of a larger trend of tick expansion. As climate change creates warmer, wetter conditions in more geographical areas than before, ticks – including the Western blacklegged tick – continue to spread to new areas and carry diseases with them. Speaking to the LA Times in the article linked above, Bay Area Lyme Foundation president Linda Giampa confirms that incidences of Lyme disease in California are likely to be increasing.
She also says research shows increasing hot spots in Southern California cities, including Malibu, Newport Beach, and Manhattan Beach.
Ticks in California
With the expansion of Lyme disease ticks in California, it’s worth noting what other types of ticks to watch out for on the west coast and what types of diseases they carry.
As discussed, the main vector of Lyme disease in California and the Pacific Northwest is the Western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus. It is the western counterpart to the Eastern blacklegged tick or “deer tick,” Ixodes scapularis, responsible for Lyme disease in Midwestern and Eastern regions of the U.S. Besides Lyme disease, both the Western and Eastern blacklegged ticks are known to carry Borrelia miyamotoi, which causes Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, as well as Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma.
Other types of disease-carrying ticks in California include:
- Pacific coast tick: Widely distributed in California; also present in Oregon
- Winter tick: Most common in central coastal and sierra foothills areas; mostly affects horses
- American dog tick: A common vector of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and tularemia
- Brown dog tick: Common pest of dogs in California and can spread Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to both humans and dogs, as well as canine Ehrlichiosis and canine Babesiosis
- Rocky Mountain wood tick: Another common vector of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and tularemia
The ticks listed above are what are known as hard ticks (PDF), so named for the hard outer shell called the dorsal shield on their backs. California is also home to several species of soft ticks, which mostly affect livestock and poultry. However, soft ticks can and do spread disease to humans – particularly Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever through the spread of a pathogen called B. hermsii.
Tick season in California
Though climate change is expanding the times of year when ticks can survive, bite, and spread disease, people living in California and the Pacific Northwest are at the highest risk for Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases during the summer.
Tracking ticks in California
As tick geography and seasonality expand, it’s more important than ever to prevent tick bites when outdoors. One great preventative action is to use LivLyme’s Tick Tracker app to educate yourself on the ticks present in areas where you live and recreate. The app, available for iOS and Android, lets users track and report ticks in real-time.
The importance of accurate testing
The study on Lyme disease ticks in California cited at the start of this article is just the latest reminder that tick-borne diseases are on the rise. To prevent complications and the development of chronic symptoms resulting from a tick bite, it’s imperative to get tested at a reputable lab with the most accurate technology available. Learn more about IGeneX’s testing kits today.
