Catch Those Ticks and Report them to NABU
Nature Preservation Group Encourages Public to Report Tick Sightings - Report ticks to The Nature Conservancy, urged request
Hey there! If you happen to spot a tick, the German Nature Conservation Association (NABU) urges you to take action. Snap a picture of that eight-legged critter, especially if it's lurking in your knee or armpit area, and report it through their online platform, NABU-Naturgucker. Just remember to remove the tick before taking the photo, as suggested by NABU. Even pet owners should lend a hand—report any ticks found on your furry friends.
Ticks are quite the urban explorers. Stefan Munzinger, head of NABU-Naturgucker, highlights that they've been found in a multitude of locations in Berlin and Brandenburg, even in urban parks and zoos. So don't be surprised if you come across a tick in the heart of Berlin's bustling city!
Interestingly, ticks prefer a moderate temperature and moist conditions, contrary to the warm weather you might expect. That said, their numbers in open, damp meadows and on shrubs are likely to increase during the upcoming weekend, when temperatures could reach around 30 degrees.
The goal of NABU's tick-spotting initiative is to keep track of the spread of castor bean ticks and other tick species in Germany as climate change unfolds. The information collected, including photos from the top and bottom, helps experts identify different species, as it's not always straightforward to tell them apart.
Germany hosts around 20 distinct tick species, some of which can transmit diseases such as Lyme borreliosis and early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME). Climate change might even facilitate the introduction of ticks and new pathogens from Mediterranean and Southeastern European regions. Currently, Brandenburg's Elbe-Elster, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, Spree-Neiße, and Frankfurt Oder districts, as well as the city of Frankfurt Oder itself, are labeled FSME risk areas.
So, for the welfare of our four-legged companions and ourselves, let's be tick-conscious and report any critters we come across!
- The environmental science community is keen on tracking the spread of ticks in Germany, as changes in climate can facilitate the introduction of new tick species and pathogens.
- As ticks prefer a moderate temperature and moist conditions, keeping up with health and wellness practices like fitness and exercise, skin care, and nutrition becomes essential in maintaining good mental health, as chronic diseases like Lyme borreliosis can stem from tick bites.
- If you reside in a high-risk area like Brandenburg's Elbe-Elster, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Oder-Spree, Spree-Neiße, and Frankfurt Oder districts or the city of Frankfurt Oder itself, for the wellness of both humans and pets, it's particularly crucial to be conscious of tick encounters and report them through platforms such as NABU-Naturgucker.
- Science plays a vital role in understanding and predicting the impact of climate change on the environment and our health, with environmental science aiding in the monitoring of emerging medical-conditions like chronic diseases transmitted by ticks.
- Ticks are not just creatures of wild spaces but can be found in urban areas, such as parks and zoos, underscoring the importance of being environmentally aware and making eco-friendly decisions for our community policy, health, and overall well-being.
