Last year, researchers at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture found an invasive species of tick on livestock in New Jersey.

Now, the Department of Agriculture has announced that the tick survived the winter, and is expected to stay.

Last summer, a farmer walked into the Hunterdon County health office covered in thousands of the ticks after she was shearing a sheep (a sheep which had never traveled internationally). The Department of Agriculture says it does not know how the tick got to New Jersey.

Close Up Of An Engorged Nymph And An Engorged Adult Tick Is Compared June 15 2001 To A
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The thought of being swarmed and covered by thousands of ticks is literally turning my stomach, to the point where I'm having trouble typing. Having yet another species of tick to worry about is incredibly stressful. I have friends and family who suffer with Lyme Disease, so I'm extra-vigilant when it comes to being outdoors, checking our clothes and skin and hair, and double-checking the dogs. I use plenty of anti-tick stuff on my dogs, but I still seem to find some when we visit certain places, and I hate having to pull them off.

Authorities are asking people to contact the state veterinarian at 609-671-6400 if they see any unusual ticks on their livestock or pets. Unusual ticks in wildlife should be reported to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Wildlife Management at 609-984-6295 or the Office of Fish and Wildlife Health and Forensics at 908-637-4173, ext.120. Any questions about tick-borne illness in humans should be directed to local health departments or the New Jersey Department of Health at 609-826-5964.

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