Polish tick season expected to last into late autumn

Health experts warn that the upcoming summer in Poland will create ideal conditions for ticks, extending their active season well into the autumn. Warm temperatures combined with frequent rain keep forest litter and vegetation moist, which ticks prefer. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management forecasts hotter-than‑average summer months with short heat waves alternating with thunderstorms, a pattern that sustains tick activity.

The season, already starting earlier than in previous years, is projected to continue later due to milder winters and climate change. Ticks are now being found not only in woods but also in city parks, community gardens and private backyards. They transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and tick‑borne encephalitis; a bite often goes unnoticed because the tick’s saliva contains a numbing agent. An expert stated that “they do not have to mean a decrease in their numbers” despite higher temperatures. Preventive measures include wearing long sleeves and trousers, using repellents, avoiding high grass, and checking the whole body for ticks after outdoor activities.