Ticks are getting worse

Plus: Ice Age Trail FKT, North Country Trail, and babes

Author

Forrest Koslowski
May 28, 2026

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This week’s weekly:

🏃‍♂️ Canadian sets fastest known time on Ice Age Trail

🥾 What's next for that North Country Trail land?

💛 Meet the Blazing Babes of the Ice Age Trail

🕷️STORY OF THE WEEK: Wisconsin’s Tick problem is growing

🏃‍♂️ Canadian sets fastest known time on Ice Age Trail LINK

  • Canadian ultrarunner Jamieson Hatt ran the entire 1,160-mile Ice Age Trail unsupported in just over 30 days, pending verification as the world's longest unsupported FKT.

  • Hatt carried a 70-pound pack from the start, racked up 80,000 feet of elevation gain, and lost more than 20 pounds along the way.

  • Despite a swollen shin forcing him to hobble the final five days, Hatt called Wisconsinites "so nice and amazing" and praised the trail's beauty. You betcha, hey.

🥾 What's next for that North Country Trail land? LINK

  • More details have emerged on the recent 213-acre acquisition in Iron County along Lake Superior, with the National Park Service now eyeing trail construction as early as next year.

  • The deal — which cost the Trust for Public Land roughly $2.5 million before conveying to NPS — will replace about 3 miles of road walking with actual trail near Superior Falls and the Montreal River.

  • Gov. Tony Evers framed the acquisition as a boost to Wisconsin's outdoor recreation economy, which brought in a record $12 billion in 2024 and supports more than 100,000 jobs statewide.

💛 Meet the Blazing Babes of the Ice Age Trail LINK

  • The Blazing Babes, a women's volunteer crew led by Pat Witkowski, meet weekly to maintain the Ice Age Trail with pick axes, shovels, and plenty of laughter.

  • The group paints the trail's signature yellow blazes statewide, pulls invasive garlic mustard, and reroutes eroded sections — earning steady praise from hikers along the way.

  • Spring through fall, they trade sweat for camaraderie, plus the occasional wine-and-cheese surprise pulled from a cooler stashed in the woods.

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🕷️STORY OF THE WEEK: Wisconsin’s Tick problem is growing LINK

If you’ve stepped outside lately, you’ve probably noticed that our unofficial state bird—the mosquito—has some serious competition this year. Ticks are out in full force, and the latest numbers from the Marshfield Clinic and the DNR are enough to make anyone’s skin crawl.

According to the newest research, 51% of deer ticks tested in Wisconsin are carrying the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. That’s literally a coin flip every time you find one latched on. To make matters worse, Wisconsin hit a record high in 2024 with 6,469 reported Lyme cases, and thanks to our "winter-lite" this past year, the surge is starting way earlier than usual.

Lyme disease starts with bacteria that can cause a "bullseye" rash and flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, and body aches. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system, leading to chronic inflammation, facial palsy, and significant "brain fog."

Why is our tick problem getting worse?

  • The "No-Winter" Effect: Shorter, milder winters mean fewer ticks die off and their "hunting season" starts much earlier, as they wake up whenever it hits 45°F.

  • Host Boom: A thriving population of nearly 2 million deer and a surge in white-footed mice provide a massive, mobile buffet for ticks to feed on and reproduce.

  • Invasive Cover: Invasive plants like Japanese Barberry create dense, humid "nurseries" that shield ticks from the drying sun, giving them the perfect habitat to multiply.

But don’t lock yourself indoors just yet! You can still enjoy the outdoors without becoming a snack:

  • DEET works, but the real MVP is Permethrin. Spray it on your shoes and clothes (never your skin!) to create an invisible shield that actually kills ticks on contact and lasts through several laundry cycles.

  • Channel your inner dork by wearing light-colored clothes—which makes it way easier to spot dark ticks— and tucking your pants into your socks. This creates a physical "dead end" for ticks trying to crawl up your legs.

  • Ticks love moisture but hate the heat. When you get home from a hike, toss your clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes; it’ll kill any stowaways that survived the car ride home.

And if you do find a tick on you? To safely remove the bugger, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin's surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure to ensure the mouthparts don't break off. Per experts, the tick must be attached at least 24 hours to transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Now tuck in those socks and get out 'der.

WISCAMPSIN WEEKLY POLL

Last Week's Trivia Check

We asked which fish creates those densely packed, crater-like nests in the shallows. You guys really know your panfish—a solid 55% of you correctly identified our favorite springtime architect!

The Correct Answer: Bluegill.

The Takeaway: While bass also make circular beds, they are generally solitary. Bluegills are highly social spawners. The males use their tail fins to sweep away silt and create tightly grouped "moon craters" before aggressively guarding them from anything that swims by—including your toes!

This Week's Trivia

With Memorial Day now in the rearview mirror, the woods are fully greened up. That means one very annoying thing for Wisconsin outdoors folks: we are officially in peak tick season. A common myth is that ticks jump onto you or intentionally drop from the trees above, but they actually use a very specific ambush strategy.

What is the scientific term for a tick perching on a blade of grass with its front legs outstretched, waiting to snag a passing host?

Give it a gut check and click a response below:

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MEME OF THE WEEK 😆

A review from the trail… Always watch out for those deer!

Well, how'd we do this week?

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