Health officials urge vigilance as tick season persists in Akron
As summer moves toward autumn, public-health and park officials in Akron and Summit County are urging residents to remain alert for ticks. Surveillance this year and recent case counts indicate the small arachnids remain a public-health concern, and local experts expect encounters to rise again in August.
Sara Cochrane, an environmental health supervisor with Summit County Public Health, oversees the county’s tick-dragging work, a field sampling method used to estimate local tick populations. She said that extreme heat earlier this summer suppressed visible tick activity for a time, but that cooler weeks and seasonal patterns typically produce an increase in ticks and related illness as August progresses.
“[In] the drags that we’ve done this year, we didn’t collect any ticks, which is actually pretty normal,”
Cochrane added that the lull during hot weather is temporary and that tick activity generally rebounds as temperatures moderate.
Local data from the health department underscores the risk: Summit County has reported 13 confirmed cases of Lyme disease so far this year and ranks seventh in Ohio for samples of blacklegged ticks, the species most commonly associated with Lyme transmission. Public-health officials also note that nearly one-fifth of Ohio’s Lyme disease cases historically occur in August, reflecting both tick biology and human outdoor behavior at this time of year.
| Indicator | Akron / Summit County data |
|---|---|
| Reported Lyme disease cases (year to date) | 13 |
| State rank for blacklegged tick samples | 7th |
| Share of Lyme cases occurring in August (statewide pattern) | ~20% |
What types of ticks are being found and where
Officials say the tick species mix in the Akron area includes both the larger, more visible American dog (or wood) ticks and the smaller deer (blacklegged) ticks. Rob Curtis, supervisor of ecological resources for Summit Metro Parks, said lone star ticks — another species that can carry disease — remain uncommon around Akron.
Park staff emphasize that life stage matters: the tiny nymphal deer ticks, which are most likely to transmit Lyme disease to people, are active in summer months and often feed at ground level on small mammals. Those immature ticks are harder to spot because of their size, increasing the risk of an unnoticed bite during woodland or brushy-area activities.
- Most adult ticks encountered this time of year are American dog/wood ticks.
- Very small nymphal deer ticks are active in summer woodlands and can be picked up near the ground.
- Lone star ticks are presently rare in the Akron area.
Practical steps Akron residents can take
Public-health and park officials recommend several common-sense measures for anyone spending time outdoors in local woodlands, parks or overgrown areas:
- Use an EPA-registered tick repellent on skin or clothing.
- Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to see.
- Avoid high grass and brushy edges; favor walking in open fields or on maintained trails when possible.
- Perform regular tick checks on yourself, children and pets after being outdoors, paying special attention to areas near the ground where nymphs attach.
Cochrane emphasized that these precautions do not mean people should avoid outdoor recreation. Instead, residents should combine sensible protective measures with awareness of where ticks are most likely to be encountered.
Summit County health authorities and Summit Metro Parks continue routine surveillance and public education as part of their efforts to reduce tick-borne illnesses in the Akron area. Residents with concerns about possible tick exposure or symptoms consistent with Lyme disease should consult a health care provider promptly.
