Invasive tick species found in Berrien County
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The first in the state have been found in Berrien County.
Calvin University researchers found the two ticks during routine surveillance at Grand Mere State Park, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
'Calvin research students have been studying the ecology and distribution of ticks in West Michigan since 2020,' said William Miller, assistant professor of biology at Calvin, in a statement. 'The students worked with our close partners at Michigan State University and collaborating state agencies to initially identify these ticks as nymphal longhorned ticks.'
The ticks were sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories, according to MDARD. On Wednesday, they were confirmed to be Asian longhorned ticks.
City crews to start oak wilt treatment at Aman Park
The ticks are native to east Asia but were first found in New Jersey in 2017, according to MDARD. In the following years, they have spread to more than 20 other states. Females can lay up to 2,000 eggs at a time.
The ticks have been known to form large infestations on a single animal, according to MDARD. This can stymie the animal's growth, and in severe cases, the blood loss can even kill the animal.
Officials say these ticks are not known to carry Lyme disease, but they can cause diseases that impact humans and animals, like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Powassan virus and heartland virus. Outside of a lab, MDARD says Asian longhorned ticks collected in the U.S. haven't been confirmed to carry these diseases — but they have been found to carry a pathogen that causes bovine theileriosis. That's why experts are especially concerned about how these ticks can affect livestock.
If you have animals, you're urged to take preventative measures. MDARD says you should have your animals treated regularly, check your animals often for ticks and keep your lawns and pastures mowed and clear of brush. If you find what you believe to be an Asian longhorned tick, you can send it to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. You can find .
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Little Rock Zoo's oldest elephant tests positive for tuberculosis
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Little Rock Zoo's oldest elephant has tested positive for tuberculosis following a routine exam. The elephant's name is Zina and she was diagnosed after a trunk wash test showed that she was shedding the bacteria. According to zoo officials, Zina is receiving treatment to stop bacterial shedding and prevent transmission to other animals. Little Rock Zoo shares growth update on baby gorilla Beni Staff will continue frequent monitoring and blood work during Zina's treatment, as the medication can be hard on her system. Tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease but primarily affects humans and is commonly seen in older Asian elephants imported from Southeast Asia before the 1970, Zoo officials said. Little Rock Zoo celebrates 100 years with community-focused centennial event A spokesperson added that guests are not at risk due to the distance maintained between the animals and visitors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
CDC: Average age of US moms giving birth rises to nearly 30
The average age of first-time mothers in the U.S. has risen to almost 30, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). New data published in a National Vitals and Statistics Report on Friday shows the mean age of mothers at first birth increased by 0.9 years between 2016 and 2023, rising from 26.6 years to 27.5. Asian women reported the largest increase in mean age at first birth between those years, rising from 30.1 years in 2016 to 31.5 by 2023. Meanwhile, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander mothers had the lowest, bumping up from 24.8 to 25.2 years of age. The report shows a similar increase in the mean age at which women have their second and third child between 2016 and 2023. Those increases pushed the mean age of birth for all mothers by 0.9 years, from 28.7 in 2016 to 29.6 in 2023. 'This analysis demonstrates that the shift toward older motherhood occurred across birth orders, among nearly all racial and ethnic groups, and in both urban and rural areas,' the report reads. The report's findings follow a years-long trend as women and men wait longer to have children. The high cost of child care is one of the many reasons why Americans are thinking twice before having children. Research shows some women are delaying having children because they are prioritizing education, career or because of changing societal norms. Child care costs have been on the rise for decades. In 2022, the median cost of child care in the country ranged from $6,552 to $15,600 a year, according to data from the Department of Labor. That sum represents between 8.9 percent and 16 percent of a family's income. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
12 hours ago
US women waiting longer to have children, CDC data shows
The age of motherhood in America is steadily climbing, with new mothers waiting longer to have their first child, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. The average age for all U.S. mothers giving birth reached nearly 30 years (29.6) in 2023, marking a significant increase from 28.7 in 2016. First-time mothers are now typically 27.5 years old, up from 26.6 in 2016. This upward trend isn't new – it's part of a decades-long shift in American family planning. Since 1970, when the average first-time mother was just 21.4 years old, the age has steadily increased, with the most dramatic rises occurring after 2009. The report reveals large demographic and geographic differences in maternal age. Women in large metropolitan areas tend to have their first child at 28.5 years, while those in the most rural areas start families nearly four years earlier, at 24.8 years. The trend toward later motherhood spans across all racial and ethnic groups, though significant disparities exist. Asian women had the highest average age for first-time births at 31.5 years in 2023, showing the largest increase of 1.4 years since 2016. White women averaged 28.3 years at first birth in 2023, up from 27.4 in 2016. Black and Hispanic women had similar average ages for first-time births at 25.9 and 25.7 years, respectively, in 2023, both showing roughly a one-year increase from 2016. The shift toward later parenthood is particularly evident in certain age groups. Between 2016 and 2023, first births among women 35 and older increased by 25%, while births among those less than 25 years old dropped by 26%. The rate remained stable for women between 25 and 29 years old. Dr. Andrei Rebarber, director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Mount Sinai West, has observed this trend firsthand in New York City. "There probably are multiple factors that have affected this statistic," Rebarber said in a statement to ABC News. "Pregnant people are choosing when to have their children often based on financial stability, timing of stable relationships, various personal goals, and career aspirations." Rebarber, who also serves as president of Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC, and Carnegie Imaging for Women, PLLC, points to technological advances as another key factor. "Advances in reproductive technologies allow patients to have greater control over their reproduction timing and are under less pressure to reproduce at earlier maternal ages," he notes.
