Ticks spread to new regions across America, bringing dangerous diseases and need for vigilance

Ticks are spreading outside their comfort zone - and into ours, according to experts.

As cooler regions experience milder winters, those areas are becoming more hospitable to many tick species, Ben Hottel, an Atlantic-based entomologist with Orkin, the pest control company, told Fox News Digital. This is because ticks prefer warmer climates.

"Deer ticks are active any time it's over 39 degrees, so we have a lot longer active periods for ticks now, unfortunately," Yetrib Hathout, professor of pharmaceutical sciences and director of the tick-born disease center, told Binghamton University previously.

The number of concerning tick species has risen from one to five in the last 15 years, according to experts at Ohio State University.

Given the spread of ticks, Ohio State University's Buckeye Tick Test Lab is now identifying "the most dangerous ticks that spread diseases."

Hottel of Orkin said it's important for people to stay vigilant as they're frequently outdoors at this time of year. 

The blacklegged tick (or deer tick) is best known for transmitting Lyme disease, especially in the Northeast, Midwest, and Appalachian regions.

While many people are aware of Lyme disease carried by the deer tick, fewer are aware of other dangerous diseases such as alpha-gal syndrome, which is spread by the lone star tick; it can trigger an allergy to red meat.

The American dog tick, found mostly east of the Rockies, can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and even cause tick paralysis. 

Its cousin, the Rocky Mountain wood tick, poses similar risks in high-elevation areas of the Rockies.

"Some of the pathogens that are only found in the South, like the Rickettsia species that causes spotted fever, are migrating up north," according to Hathout.

"That's why tick surveillance and tick screening for other things are important. And I think it's important to do it regularly."

Hottel told Fox News Digital, "Awareness is the first step in protecting yourself from tick-borne illness."

Knowing which species to watch for can also help prevent serious tick-borne illness.

Ticks find their hosts by detecting animals' breath and body odors, or by sensing body heat, moisture and vibrations, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). 

"Some species can even recognize a shadow," the CDC site says.

In addition, ticks pick a place to wait by identifying well-used paths. 

Ticks can't fly or jump - but many tick species wait in this position known as "questing."