Stay Awake to Those Slimy Suckers: Ticks on the Rise in Germany!
Association advocates for public tick notifications - Reporting Ticks: Encourage Sharing of Tick Encounters by The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservation Association Germany (NABU) is urging citizens to keep an eye out for those eight-legged critters known as ticks and report any sightings. If you stumble upon one of these bloodsuckers, snap a pic—just make sure you've removed it first—and submit the evidence via Nabu-Naturgucker online. Furry friends included, so don't forget to report any tick findings on your pets too!
Over the past few years, ticks have been popping up in unexpected places in Berlin and Brandenburg, from forested areas to city parks. Benedikt Schirmer, head of NABU-Naturgucker Berlin, remarks that ticks can be found just about anywhere there are large green spaces, even in the heart of urban areas.
Ticks fancy their fair share of damp weather and moderate temperatures, so don't expect a tick invasion just because the mercury hits 30 degrees on a sunny Saturday. Instead, these slimy suckers prefer to make themselves comfortable in places like meadows or on smaller wooden structures, like shrubs.
This tick-hunting campaign aims to investigate the impact of climate change on the spread of castor bean ticks and other tick species across Germany. Photos, preferably from the top and bottom, are crucial as it can be tricky to tell ticks apart. Germany currently plays host to about 20 different species of ticks, some of which can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME). Climate change may lead to the introduction of ticks from the Mediterranean region and southeastern Europe, accompanied by new pathogens.
Brandenburg, with its forested lands and grasslands, is considered a high-risk area for FSME. If you live in districts such as Elbe-Elster, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, or Spree-Neiße, or even Frankfurt Oder, you might want to tuck your trouser legs in tight and steer clear of tall grass whenever possible. Don't forget to guard your furry friends as well, because ticks are never picky about who they hitchhike with!
- The Nature Conservation Association Germany (NABU) is emphasizing the importance of reporting tick sightings, including those on pets, through their online platform Nabu-Naturgucker.
- Ticks, which are active in damp and moderately warm environments, have been increasingly found in unexpected locations such as city parks and meadows, even in urban areas.
- The ongoing tick-hunting campaign, focused on investigating the impact of climate change on tick species distribution, requires photos from the top and bottom for proper identification, as Germany hosts around 20 different species, some of which can transmit diseases like Lyme disease and early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME).
- Brandenburg, with its forests and grasslands, is identified as a high-risk area for FSME, making it crucial for residents in districts like Elbe-Elster, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, Spree-Neiße, or Frankfurt Oder to take precautions, such as tucking trouser legs in and avoiding tall grass, to minimize the risk of encounters with ticks.
- Climate change could potentially introduce ticks from Mediterranean regions and southeastern Europe, bringing along new pathogens, emphasizing the need for community awareness and proactive environmental protection measures.
