The peak of the European forest tick season is expected to occur later this year, according to Sergey Bugmyrin, head of the Laboratory of Animal and Plant Parasitology at the Institute of Biology, Karelian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Bugmyrin, a participant in the Decade of Science and Technology events (2022-2031), shared this prediction.
Annually, a team of scientists from the Karelian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences conducts tick monitoring in designated forest areas. Researchers use “parasitological flags” along specific routes to collect ticks, determine their population size and species composition, and then send them for epidemiological analysis.
“Our monitoring focuses on two species: the taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus) and the European forest tick (Ixodes ricinus). While the taiga tick`s activity peak in May was typical with high numbers, the European forest tick has not yet shown a similar surge in population,” Bugmyrin explained.
The scientist attributes this delay to a prolonged drought experienced in the region during July. Consequently, he anticipates that the overall tick activity season will be postponed, likely extending into September.
Given that the tick season peak often coincides with the “quiet hunting” season (foraging for mushrooms and berries), the scientist advises mushroom pickers and other forest visitors to choose appropriate clothing in advance and thoroughly check themselves after spending time in the woods. He emphasized that “a tick is not a mosquito; it cannot attach itself to the skin instantly, it requires time.” Therefore, he urged individuals to change their clothes immediately upon returning from the forest.
Should you discover a tick already attached, immediate action is crucial. “The longer a tick feeds on your blood, the higher the risk of transmitting infections such as tick-borne encephalitis, borreliosis (Lyme disease), or tularemia,” Bugmyrin stated. He recommends keeping a tick remover in every home first-aid kit. These devices, readily available in pharmacies, are designed for the safest and least painful tick extraction. Following removal, the tick should be sent for analysis.
This article provides general information and recommendations. Always consult with medical professionals for specific health concerns related to tick bites.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth