Summer looks to be a rough tick season in NJ and beyond. Here's what to know

New Jersey residents may want to think twice before taking a forest hike this summer, as tick bites are likely to rise statewide.

Those in the Northeast are looking at an especially tough tick season in the coming months. One particular tick can possibly make a new enemy of cattle, pets and humans as the days get hotter.

There are hundreds of tick species worldwide, but only four pose a threat of transmitting diseases in New Jersey, said Alvaro Toledo, an assistant professor of entomology at Rutgers University. He said while there is no way to determine whether tick populations will rise, it is likely that tick-borne diseases will increase in the future.

"The deer tick is expanding. It's going north, and it's moving west, so there are new areas they are colonizing which they were not present in the past," Toledo said. "As a result of that, more people are potentially exposed."

The deer tick is the primary vector of Lyme disease, an illness that plagues New Jersey more than most other states. With this bug moving to new habitats, there will likely be more people bitten and infected with Lyme disease and other tick-borne viruses.

Why are ticks migrating?

Climate change and changes in animals' movement are the main culprits for ushering these pests into new environments. Toledo said ticks thrive in habitats with high temperature and humidity among grassy, woody areas. As New Jersey experiences milder winters and heads into a blistering summer, ticks will find themselves in more gardens up north.

Not only are tick populations expanding territory, but a new invasive species was spotted on New Jersey soil. The Asian longhorned tick was found in the United States for the first time in 2017 and has now spread across the East Coast, including the Garden State. Toledo said since it is an invasive species and can reproduce asexually, it is an important pest to look out for.

"People should be aware that quite often you might get bitten in your own backyard when you are gardening, so always check for ticks even if you don't ... go to a park or to a forest," Toledo said.

What's being done now?

Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law last month a bill requiring all public schools from kindergarten through grade 12 to learn about Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses. The legislation mandates a curriculum emphasizing disease prevention while including tick biology, transmitted diseases and treatment when infected. Students will see these measures take place next school year.

Another measure makes the Department of Health responsible for publishing any information concerning the prevention, discovery and removal of ticks. These guidelines will be made available on the department's website and distributed to schools.