While Michigan summers are amazing, one thing we need to be mindful of during warmer months is all of the critters that are also taking advantage of the great weather. And there’s one in particular that makes my skin crawl: Ticks.

And I can’t be the only one who’s noticed more and more of them have been hitching a ride on us these past years. What’s up with that?

Luckily, a bit of education goes a long way towards keeping the little jerks away from us and preventing tick-borne diseases when we’re enjoying our great outdoors. 

Today, The ’Gander’s Chaunie Brusie brings us everything we need to know about ticks in Michigan.

After that, I want readers to chime in with their thoughts on “No Mow May.”

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Cavs end the Pistons’ season (ESPN): The Detroit Pistons were eliminated from the playoffs Sunday after a 125-94 Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in one of the worst postseason defeats ever for a 60-win team. Despite the blowout, coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the season was still a major step forward for the franchise heading into next year.

MSU Board approves doubling president pay (MLive): Michigan State University trustees voted Sunday to more than double President Kevin Guskiewicz’s salary to $2 million amid concerns he could be recruited away by other universities. The raise sparked criticism from some board members over the rushed approval process.

Coast Guard saves kayakers near Mackinac Island (Freep): Two kayakers were rescued Saturday after overturning in cold waters between St. Ignace and Mackinac Island and being unable to get back into their boats. The US Coast Guard helped bring the pair and their equipment to safety as Lake Huron temperatures hovered below 40 degrees.

Cases of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme and anaplasmosis, have soared in Michigan over the past five years. Here’s what to know to protect yourself. (Erik Karits/Unsplash)

By Chaunie Brusie

As much as I will forever sing the praises of living in Michigan with its salt and shark-free waters and lack of (mostly) poisonous snakes, there is one great fear I have in this state:

Ticks.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), tick-borne diseases have increased at an alarming rate over the past five years in our state. For instance, reported cases of Lyme disease have soared 168 percent, and that is just the cases we know about—unfortunately, Lyme disease is an often under-recognized and underdiagnosed condition. Rates of anaplasmosis, another bacterial infection from ticks, also rose by over fivefold since 2020. 

Ticks in Michigan scare me because they can be so hard to spot, and frankly, all of the things I enjoy most about living in Michigan during warm weather, like our wonderful outdoors, forests, and beaches, also seem to carry the risk of tick exposure. Even our yard, full of farm fields, trees, and a hay pasture for our beef cattle, feels like a constant threat. I don’t want to live in fear of ticks all summer long, so I’m taking a deeper dive into what to know about ticks in Michigan, where they are most active, and how to best avoid them. 

Want deeper coverage of Michigan politics? Our free Thursday newsletter, This Week in Michigan Politics, breaks down what’s happening in Lansing and Washington—clearly and without the jargon.

With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

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As you saw in Chaunie’s story, one of the best ways to avoid ticks is to keep the grass around your house mowed. But in May, many folks in the state like to give our pollinators a boost by participating in No Mow May and keeping their lawns in their natural state.

There has, however, been a lot of discussion among local officials across Michigan about whether the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to “No Mow May.”

That’s why this week, I want to know:

Reminder: When responding, include your first name and where you’re from to have your answer included.

Have a question you want me to ask our community? Send it my way. I might feature it in a future edition.

Missed the answers to last week’s question: “What are Michigan’s can’t-miss events this spring and summer?” Find them in our Friday newsletter here.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from Chaunie Brusie. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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