MSU Extension's Schutter Lab Identifies First Known Blacklegged Tick in Montana

Several species of ticks are native to Montana, and they are a common sight for runners, hikers and campers in the spring and summer months. But for the first time, specialists in Montana have identified a blacklegged tick in the state, a species that can carry and transmit Lyme disease.

Rocky Mountain wood ticks and American dog ticks are commonly seen in Montana, said Marni Rolston, a diagnostician in MSU Extension’s Schutter Diagnostic Lab in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology. Rolston identified the specimen, which was found in eastern Montana. Wood ticks and dog ticks do not transmit Lyme disease, but blacklegged ticks, also known as deer ticks, can.

The specimen sent to the Schutter Lab was found on a hunter’s dog. The hunter, noticing that it looked different than other ticks, packaged it in a vial and sent it to MSU for identification. Rolston collaborated with scientists at the National Institutes of Health’s Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton to make an airtight identification through DNA sequencing.

“This is the first time we’ve seen this species in the state, but we do have other tick species within that genus that have always occurred here,” said Rolston, who is also a program manager in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences. “In this case, we wanted to verify it, because it was such an important potential new species.”

Blacklegged ticks are smaller than the species many recreationists are used to seeing in Montana, said Rolston, and MSU Extension’s role is to provide up-to-date recommendations for identification and awareness.

“This discovery is incredibly important because it greatly expands the geographic range of the blacklegged tick, a carrier of the pathogen that causes Lyme Disease,” said Bob Peterson, an MSU entomologist and head of the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences. The implications of finding this tick in Montana cannot be overstated.”

MSU Extension’s Schutter Diagnostic Lab, housed on the MSU campus, specializes in questions of plant health and plant-associated organisms. The lab accepts specimens from Montana residents free of charge. Collaborating with Extension agents in Montana counties and on reservations, the lab’s diagnosticians can make identifications and provide management suggestions for anything from garden tomatoes and foraged mushrooms to invasive plants and potentially dangerous ticks.

In addition to analyzing insects, the lab’s specialists can also identify plant diseases and environmental problems such as drought stress, herbicide and pesticide effects, and pest damage. Information for submitting samples can be found on the lab’s website. If intact plant or insect specimens are not available, Montanans can also email photos to the lab’s specialists.

Many people believe the lab’s work stops there, but Rolston emphasized that once insects, plants or pathogens are identified, the lab also provides tailored management strategies to help gardeners, agricultural producers and outdoorspeople manage pests in ways that keep their animals, crops and environments healthy. In the case of the newly identified tick, she said, that includes providing information to veterinarians, who may see the new species on animals that spend time outdoors.

“We’re very proud that we can provide these services for free for the citizens of Montana in all 56 counties and seven reservations,” Rolston said. “It’s a great resource and we hope people know that we’re here.”

MSU Extension will collaborate with the Montana Department of Agriculture and Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services to ensure that information on ticks and monitoring is as widely distributed as possible. DPHHS also conducts monitoring programs to better understand the status of various tick species in the state.

Rolston noted that individuals who have symptoms consistent with Lyme disease or are concerned about tickborne illnesses should contact their health care provider and that the Schutter lab does not test ticks for pathogens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t recommend testing ticks for diseases because results are often inaccurate.

Ticks in Montana: While blacklegged ticks can transmit Lyme disease, other ticks in Montana do not. However, other species can transmit Colorado tick fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can be deadly, so Rolston emphasized that it is important for people to know how to check themselves and their pets for ticks and know what to do if they find one. More information on ticks from MSU Extension can be found through the Extension Urban Alerts program.

Peak tick season in Montana generally runs from late spring to early fall, with peak activity in May and June.

The best way to avoid tickborne illness is to avoid tick bites. Limit exposed skin by wearing long sleeves and long pants while hiking or recreating outdoors, and tuck pantlegs into socks.

Consider insect repellent. The EPA maintains a list of recommended repellents for ticks and other insects at https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you.

Ticks often hang on the edges of vegetation to easily attach to animals or people, a behavior known as “questing.” Avoid brushing against grass and vegetation hanging over trails, especially game trails.

After being outdoors, check your body for ticks. If you find an embedded tick, remove it carefully with tweezers to avoid leaving any parts behind. Ticks embed into the skin to attach, and embedded parts that remain can cause infection.

Wash clothes and dry them in the dryer on high heat after recreating.