Bad news, everyone. Another type of tick has been discovered in the Mountain State. Now, not only do we have to contend with eight-legged, blood-sucking parasites like the dog tick, the deer tick, and the lone star tick we have a new arrival. Does anyone remember the giant parachuting spiders that came into our state in 2022? Yeah, we hate that guy too. In a world that doesn’t seem like it could get any worse, we now have another tick to deal with. As of just recently here in West Virginia, we now have to watch out for the brand-new-to-America Asian longhorned ticks as well.

The Asian Longhorned Tick, also known as the Bush Tick or simply the Longhorned Tick, is native to parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands, including Hawai'i. It was first discovered in the United States on a New Jersey sheep farm in 2017.
Desmond W. Helmore / Wikipedia
Efforts to eradicate this new invasive tick at that time failed; the species overwintered and the Longhorned Tick population has continued to grow. And grow. And grow.
CDC
As of August 2022, Longhorned Ticks had also been spotted in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and -- you guessed it -- West Virginia.
Jm0371 /Public Domain / Wikipedia

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Longhorned Ticks on other continents are known to reproduce both sexually and asexually, and, at least on the other side of the ocean, they do carry serious diseases that can infect both humans and animals.
Public Domain / Wikipedia
However, not much is yet known about how this newly introduced tick species will behave (and the impact it will have) here in North America. We don't know what West Virginia habitat it prefers or what diseases it could potentially carry.
Commonsource / Wikipedia
So far, though, it seems that, at least in comparison to the other common tick species found in West Virginia, the Asian Longhorned Tick is less attracted to human skin. That's one silver lining! Here's another: so far, for those ticks that have been collected and analyzed in a lab, none of the Longhorned Ticks that call the eastern part of the United States of America home have been carrying any human disease-causing pathogens.
James Gathany/ Wikimedia
Here's hoping it stays that way!
Shawn Ullerup / Wikipedia
This information is good to know but when it is all said and done it shouldn't keep us from going outside and enjoying our beautiful state. We have so many mountains, rivers, and natural wonders to explore, and although it's good to be aware we still encourage you to explore some of these incredible natural spots that are completely unique to West Virginia.

To learn more about Asian Longhorned Ticks in West Virginia and catch any updates as they become available, visit the CDC website. Are you good at identifying any ticks you come across? Have you spotted this new one yet? Unfortunately, it’s not the only problematic pest out and about in West Virginia.

If you do spot a tick on you here is what you will want to do. Grab the nearest tick removal tool or a set of tweezers and firmly grip the tick close to the skin. You then will apply an even amount of pressure without jerking to pull the tick out. You will want to avoid pulling too quickly for the risk of breaking off its head and remaining in your skin. You can then place the tick in alcohol and save it in a plastic bag or with tape to later identify the species. Then wash the area of the bite thoroughly with soap and water. You will want to watch the area to see if a rash develops, if it does or you get a fever within the next couple of weeks make sure you contact your doctor.

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