Thomas Mather
@thetickguy.bsky.social
URI Professor; Public Health Entomology; SciComm; Appreciates citizen science; Director @TickEncounter; @TickEncounter/Linktree
YIKES!! Here are the first 4 TickSpotters submissions last night—4 day feeding—two on pets and 2 on people. DYK, the longer ticks are feeding, the greater chance to transmit an infectious dose of any germ they're carrying. Help stop disease with DAILY TICK CHECKS! bit.ly/do_a_tick_ch...
November 24, 2025 at 4:02 AM
YIKES!! Here are the first 4 TickSpotters submissions last night—4 day feeding—two on pets and 2 on people. DYK, the longer ticks are feeding, the greater chance to transmit an infectious dose of any germ they're carrying. Help stop disease with DAILY TICK CHECKS! bit.ly/do_a_tick_ch...
Removing a tick completely can be hard—the mouth may break off. Removing a tick safely is easier...if you can keep from squeezing the tick. Firmly grab the tick as close to the skin as possible, along the dashed line, to prevent squeezing the body. bit.ly/safetickremo... @bugbitething.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Removing a tick completely can be hard—the mouth may break off. Removing a tick safely is easier...if you can keep from squeezing the tick. Firmly grab the tick as close to the skin as possible, along the dashed line, to prevent squeezing the body. bit.ly/safetickremo... @bugbitething.bsky.social
Yes, it is still blacklegged tick season! And this is the most common “size” on dogs—attached and feeding for about 3-4 days. When they get that size, they start to poke out of the fur; you can feel them more easily, too. Keep protecting your pets...and yourself! bit.ly/Fall_ticks_q...
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Yes, it is still blacklegged tick season! And this is the most common “size” on dogs—attached and feeding for about 3-4 days. When they get that size, they start to poke out of the fur; you can feel them more easily, too. Keep protecting your pets...and yourself! bit.ly/Fall_ticks_q...
Working on a new feature – TickEncounter Trends – based on reports to #TickSpotters. This one for adult blacklegged (deer) ticks is cool as it clearly shows their 2 distinct activity peaks. So far, adult blacklegged ticks are running a little above average this year!!
November 7, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Working on a new feature – TickEncounter Trends – based on reports to #TickSpotters. This one for adult blacklegged (deer) ticks is cool as it clearly shows their 2 distinct activity peaks. So far, adult blacklegged ticks are running a little above average this year!!
Depending on your location, it’s possible you could encounter a tick that’s NOT a blacklegged (deer) tick, but not very likely. October and November are PEAK season for these ticks. Have a little fun with our Ticknado video (bit.ly/TicknadoYouT...)
November 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Depending on your location, it’s possible you could encounter a tick that’s NOT a blacklegged (deer) tick, but not very likely. October and November are PEAK season for these ticks. Have a little fun with our Ticknado video (bit.ly/TicknadoYouT...)
145 female blacklegged ticks, to be precise! With a typical Lyme disease infection rate of about 50%, 73 are likely carrying the Lyme disease germ. Some could also be carrying babesia and anaplasma. 1 or 2 could even be carrying the Powassan virus. Good thing they’re sealed in a vial.
October 26, 2025 at 12:56 AM
145 female blacklegged ticks, to be precise! With a typical Lyme disease infection rate of about 50%, 73 are likely carrying the Lyme disease germ. Some could also be carrying babesia and anaplasma. 1 or 2 could even be carrying the Powassan virus. Good thing they’re sealed in a vial.
How much do you know about ticks in the Fall. Try our newest Quizlet flash card deck – “Ticks In Fall” and find out. bit.ly/Fall_ticks_q...
October 24, 2025 at 12:58 AM
How much do you know about ticks in the Fall. Try our newest Quizlet flash card deck – “Ticks In Fall” and find out. bit.ly/Fall_ticks_q...
What happens when you forget your TICK CHECK? This!!! bit.ly/fallticks
October 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
What happens when you forget your TICK CHECK? This!!! bit.ly/fallticks
In the Fall, #TickSpotters gets the largest number of submissions on Mondays and Tuesdays. Why? Because of more people doing outdoor activities on the weekend, and not being reminded to do a TICK CHECK. Consider yourself reminded. bit.ly/fallticks
October 19, 2025 at 3:15 AM
In the Fall, #TickSpotters gets the largest number of submissions on Mondays and Tuesdays. Why? Because of more people doing outdoor activities on the weekend, and not being reminded to do a TICK CHECK. Consider yourself reminded. bit.ly/fallticks
Depending on where you live or play, these are the ticks and likelihood of an encounter during October—the month when adult blacklegged ticks dominate, and it only gets worse...thru Thanksgiving! So, keep tucking shirts and pant legs, and check regularly. More TickSafe info - bit.ly/fallticks
October 1, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Depending on where you live or play, these are the ticks and likelihood of an encounter during October—the month when adult blacklegged ticks dominate, and it only gets worse...thru Thanksgiving! So, keep tucking shirts and pant legs, and check regularly. More TickSafe info - bit.ly/fallticks
TICKSPOTTERS: Use this first adult blacklegged tick of the fall report as a CALL TO ACTION. Adult blacklegged ticks are about to EXPLODE onto the scene. Here’s your to-do list: treat your pet, treat your pants (w/permethrin), and tuck in your shirt. More ways to stay tick-safe bit.ly/fallticks
September 25, 2025 at 2:49 AM
TICKSPOTTERS: Use this first adult blacklegged tick of the fall report as a CALL TO ACTION. Adult blacklegged ticks are about to EXPLODE onto the scene. Here’s your to-do list: treat your pet, treat your pants (w/permethrin), and tuck in your shirt. More ways to stay tick-safe bit.ly/fallticks
...very small, circular body form, 8 legs, long mouthparts, 12-13 festoons; possible trigger for AGS, not to mention ehrlichiosis; and the fastest tick around. If ESPN ever starts up tick racing, lone stars are a safe bet for the win! (they climb up under your untucked clothes pretty quickly, too.
September 15, 2025 at 1:20 AM
...very small, circular body form, 8 legs, long mouthparts, 12-13 festoons; possible trigger for AGS, not to mention ehrlichiosis; and the fastest tick around. If ESPN ever starts up tick racing, lone stars are a safe bet for the win! (they climb up under your untucked clothes pretty quickly, too.
Even though summer is almost over, people are still encountering ticks. And nymph stage lone star ticks like this one are the most likely tick you’ll encounter through most of the southern and eastern states at this time of year. Click here (bit.ly/summerticks) to see what’s biting.
August 30, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Even though summer is almost over, people are still encountering ticks. And nymph stage lone star ticks like this one are the most likely tick you’ll encounter through most of the southern and eastern states at this time of year. Click here (bit.ly/summerticks) to see what’s biting.
LARVAE TIME. Aug/Sept is when the youngest stage of many types of ticks become most active. Thousands of 6-legged specks hatch from dime-sized clumps of eggs, and then they generally cluster together while they wait for a host to come by. Here’s a story of what can happen next (bit.ly/flipflopticks)
August 19, 2025 at 7:57 PM
LARVAE TIME. Aug/Sept is when the youngest stage of many types of ticks become most active. Thousands of 6-legged specks hatch from dime-sized clumps of eggs, and then they generally cluster together while they wait for a host to come by. Here’s a story of what can happen next (bit.ly/flipflopticks)
Tick encounters tend to go down in August. That’s a relief after making it through the 3 “tickiest” months of May, June and July. But there are still ticks out there. Here are the ticks to look out for in August. It's also larval tick season, and they're hard to see. More info: bit.ly/tickspecies.
August 2, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Tick encounters tend to go down in August. That’s a relief after making it through the 3 “tickiest” months of May, June and July. But there are still ticks out there. Here are the ticks to look out for in August. It's also larval tick season, and they're hard to see. More info: bit.ly/tickspecies.
If a 3-year-old can spot a tick and call it out, then you can, too!! I admit I’ve been training my grandkids to know a tick when they see one, and to know we need to get it off right away. Find a blog (bit.ly/TickGuy-blogs) about another tick on one of my grandkids and win a prize. Reply w/title.
July 28, 2025 at 2:30 AM
If a 3-year-old can spot a tick and call it out, then you can, too!! I admit I’ve been training my grandkids to know a tick when they see one, and to know we need to get it off right away. Find a blog (bit.ly/TickGuy-blogs) about another tick on one of my grandkids and win a prize. Reply w/title.
Here’s an insightful new article for helping prevent tick bites like the pros...
bit.ly/webMD_tickpr...
bit.ly/webMD_tickpr...
July 2, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Here’s an insightful new article for helping prevent tick bites like the pros...
bit.ly/webMD_tickpr...
bit.ly/webMD_tickpr...
In this situation, using a sharp or pointy tick remover is probably not a good idea. But a non-pointy slotted scoop might be safer. Check out our “Safe Tick Removal” info (bit.ly/safetickremo...)
June 29, 2025 at 1:43 AM
In this situation, using a sharp or pointy tick remover is probably not a good idea. But a non-pointy slotted scoop might be safer. Check out our “Safe Tick Removal” info (bit.ly/safetickremo...)
Here’s a TickSmart hack to help you find these tiny ticks_do it every day! bit.ly/tick-finding...
June 24, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Here’s a TickSmart hack to help you find these tiny ticks_do it every day! bit.ly/tick-finding...
After a near-record high for submissions to #TickSpotters in May, we thought you might like to know which ticks to look out for in June. Want more info on any of these, we've got it here: bit.ly/tickspecies.
June 3, 2025 at 1:53 AM
After a near-record high for submissions to #TickSpotters in May, we thought you might like to know which ticks to look out for in June. Want more info on any of these, we've got it here: bit.ly/tickspecies.
We always tell people to run their outsider clothes through a hot dryer for 10 min before washing, and this TickSpotters experience is why...
"found on damp clothing being removed from washing machine. alive and moving! Not expecting that."
Check out Tip #1 bit.ly/dry_then_wash
"found on damp clothing being removed from washing machine. alive and moving! Not expecting that."
Check out Tip #1 bit.ly/dry_then_wash
May 20, 2025 at 2:35 AM
We always tell people to run their outsider clothes through a hot dryer for 10 min before washing, and this TickSpotters experience is why...
"found on damp clothing being removed from washing machine. alive and moving! Not expecting that."
Check out Tip #1 bit.ly/dry_then_wash
"found on damp clothing being removed from washing machine. alive and moving! Not expecting that."
Check out Tip #1 bit.ly/dry_then_wash
They're back and numbers are growing. Double down with your tick checks. These ticks generally latch on at shoe level and crawl up. Keep it from happening by spraying shoes with permethrin spray--let dry before wearing.
Protection lasts a month. We've got tips--https://bit.ly/all_things_TickSmart
Protection lasts a month. We've got tips--https://bit.ly/all_things_TickSmart
May 18, 2025 at 3:27 AM
They're back and numbers are growing. Double down with your tick checks. These ticks generally latch on at shoe level and crawl up. Keep it from happening by spraying shoes with permethrin spray--let dry before wearing.
Protection lasts a month. We've got tips--https://bit.ly/all_things_TickSmart
Protection lasts a month. We've got tips--https://bit.ly/all_things_TickSmart
It's good to know what kind of tick was biting you to know the risk for any disease. Like this one doesn't transmit the germ causing Lyme disease, and less than 1 in 100 carries the germ causing Rocky Mtn spotted fever. Check out our tools to know your ticks. web.uri.edu/tickencounte...
April 28, 2025 at 3:46 AM
It's good to know what kind of tick was biting you to know the risk for any disease. Like this one doesn't transmit the germ causing Lyme disease, and less than 1 in 100 carries the germ causing Rocky Mtn spotted fever. Check out our tools to know your ticks. web.uri.edu/tickencounte...
Here’s the backstory on this one... “felt an itch on my back. I went to scratch, and this tick fell into my hand. I have no idea when or how it got there”.
April 19, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Here’s the backstory on this one... “felt an itch on my back. I went to scratch, and this tick fell into my hand. I have no idea when or how it got there”.
It was right there...in the hair...yet never did I see it.
Until one day...when I washed and sprayed,
My darling, didn’t you feel bit?
About 50% of these ticks are infected with Lyme disease germs, and other germs, too!! These are the things that happen!!! Time to double down on tick checks!!!!
Until one day...when I washed and sprayed,
My darling, didn’t you feel bit?
About 50% of these ticks are infected with Lyme disease germs, and other germs, too!! These are the things that happen!!! Time to double down on tick checks!!!!
April 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
It was right there...in the hair...yet never did I see it.
Until one day...when I washed and sprayed,
My darling, didn’t you feel bit?
About 50% of these ticks are infected with Lyme disease germs, and other germs, too!! These are the things that happen!!! Time to double down on tick checks!!!!
Until one day...when I washed and sprayed,
My darling, didn’t you feel bit?
About 50% of these ticks are infected with Lyme disease germs, and other germs, too!! These are the things that happen!!! Time to double down on tick checks!!!!