Have questions? Get Answers!
"); document.write("MMCD will I.D. Your Tick! Here's How:
1. If your tick has potentially fed (contains blood) call 651-643-8384 for further instruction or place it into a hard container such as a film container or pill bottle before continuing to follow these directions.
2. Ensure the tick is killed prior to mailing -- store tick in rubbing alcohol for approximately one day to make sure it's dead.
3. Wrap the tick in some tissue or paper toweling and lightly soak the package in water or rubbing alcohol. We want the tick to arrive slightly damp.
4. Place your package in a re-sealable plastic bag such as a sandwich bag.
5. Enclose your name, address, and a daytime phone number.
6. Place in a padded envelope and either mail it or drop it off at our office.
We will try to phone you the same day we receive your sample.
Mail to:
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
Attn: Tick Lab
2099 University Ave. West
St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: 651-645-9149
Looking for TICK PICTURES? see LINKS.
Prevent Lyme Disease
When in deer tick habitat, stick to the center of the trail. Deer ticks hide out in dense underbrush.
Wear light colored clothes so ticks are visible.
Use insect repellent. Follow label directions.
After being in the woods, do a complete body check, shower and vigorously towel dry.
Save activities like brush-cutting for August when all stages of deer ticks are at their lowest numbers.
Carefully check your kids.
Also check your pets for ticks.
Deer tick adults can be out any time temperatures are 40 degrees or up and can be found even when snow is on the ground!
The most effective tick control measure is public education. Call 651-645-9149 or email our Lyme tick specialist to find out how to reduce ticks in your yard or to get answers to your tick-borne disease questions.
In 2007 we found at least one deer tick from all 7 counties for the first time since the study began and they were detected in all counties again in 2008 and 2009. Our 2009 deer tick collection average was again high; our calculated yearly averages have been elevated most years since 2000.
The immature deer tick nymph crawls along a thumbnail in picture at left.
2007 was a record-setting year for human HGA and Lyme disease cases, according to the MN Dept Health. Case numbers for 2009 remained high.