PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 1, 2023
Bitter cold weather is about to sweep through Maine, the kind of cold that can quickly numb fingers and toes and freeze exposed skin. It’s also the kind of cold that – under precisely the right conditions – could take a bite out of Maine’s tick population. But those hoping for a tick die-off this week are going to be disappointed, experts say, in part because there’s just enough snow on the ground to protect the irksome arachnids. Ticks, which transmit diseases such as Lyme, Powassan and babesiosis, can be killed by extreme cold or dry weather. But this week’s deep freeze is not going to be enough to make a dent in the population, according to experts. The snow covering the ground across the state right now is expected to act like a blanket and keep ticks alive until it warms up again next week.