Lyme disease cases in Maine this year have already surpassed the record set in 2024 despite drought conditions that can potentially reduce tick populations or make them less active.

Griffin Dill, who manages the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s tick lab, said when the drought was at its worst in August and September, deer ticks — the ticks that cause Lyme disease — were in the larval stage.

“The drought missed the ticks, timing-wise,” Dill said. “The ticks were in their larval stage, and the larvae is lower to the ground (than adult ticks), which means they can retain the moisture that remains in the ground better.”

Lyme disease cases in Maine have surged this year, with the latest data showing 3,569 cases as of Oct. 14 — surpassing the record of 3,218 cases for all of 2024, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lyme disease can be treated with a course of antibiotics if caught early. Symptoms include body aches, fatigue, chills, fever, headache and swollen lymph nodes. In some cases, a bulls-eye rash will appear.

Maine is also seeing high levels of other tickborne diseases this year, with 1,255 anaplasmosis and 324 babesiosis cases through Oct. 14. In 2024, Maine had 1,284 anaplasmosis cases and 309 babesiosis cases. The deer tick also transmits those diseases.

Dill said the warming climate is contributing to the increase in tickborne diseases by expanding the deer tick’s range into colder areas of Maine and extending when they are active.

“Warmer temperatures are allowing them to stay active longer into the fall,” Dill said.

The National Weather Service has reported that Maine was experiencing severe drought through early October and that rainfall needs to be 150% above normal levels before the ground freezes to end the drought. Now that it’s late October, and the rain has returned, so have the adult ticks, which thrive in rainy and humid conditions, Dill said.

The tick lab receives ticks for testing from all over the state. Dill said the tick submissions, after a brief lull, are at about 50 to 60 per week, which is normal for October.

The University of Maine is currently researching how ticks survive winter and the overall impacts of weather conditions on ticks. Ticks can also reemerge during winter whenever temperatures climb above freezing, according to the Maine CDC.

Tick habitat includes any wooded, leafy or areas with shrubs, including the yard. Firewood may also harbor ticks.

To minimize chances of exposure, when going into tick habitat, wear long sleeves and long pants, tuck pants into your socks, use an Environmental Protection Agency approved repellant, shower after being in tick habitat and inspect your body and pets for ticks. Also, after washing clothes, put them in the dryer on high for at least 15 minutes to kill any ticks that were on clothing.