Parshall Pest Control is alerting Kent County homeowners, outdoor recreationists, and property managers that Michigan's 2026 tick season has begun ahead of schedule, despite one of the state's most extreme winters on record. The announcement comes in direct response to expert warnings and confirmed early tick activity in multiple Michigan regions, and follows a documented 168% increase in Lyme disease cases statewide over the past five years — from 452 confirmed cases in 2020 to 1,215 in 2024, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
Jean Tsao, associate professor of fisheries and wildlife at Michigan State University, confirmed in a January 2026 interview with Michigan Public Radio that blacklegged ticks — the primary carriers of Lyme disease — can become active at temperatures as low as 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. "Certainly by mid-March," Tsao stated, activity can be expected across the state. Outdoor and wildlife observers in Southwest Michigan have already reported tick sightings in early March 2026, suggesting the timeline for the entire state may be accelerating.
"Grand Rapids residents who spend time near wooded areas, trails, or even their own backyards are at real risk right now," said a spokesperson for Parshall Pest Control. "The data from the state is clear — tick-borne illness is rising sharply in Michigan, and the window to implement perimeter protection before peak activity is narrow." Read more at https://markets.financialcontent.com/fatpitch.financials/article/pressadvantage-2025-11-26-parshall-pest-control-launches-comprehensive-termite-prevention-awareness-campaign-and-expert-advisory-program.
Tick-borne Illness: A Growing Public Health Concern in Michigan: Lyme disease, transmitted primarily through the bite of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), is now the most common tick-borne illness in Michigan. Anaplasmosis — a separate tick-borne bacterial infection — has seen an even more dramatic increase, rising nearly fivefold from 17 confirmed cases in 2020 to 82 in 2024, according to MDHHS.
A peer-reviewed study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) confirms that professional perimeter treatments targeting tick habitats — including yard edges, leaf litter, and wooded borders — represent one of the most effective evidence-based strategies for reducing human exposure to tick-borne pathogens. The same research identifies landscape modifications such as regular grass trimming, brush removal, and the elimination of leaf litter as important supplementary measures homeowners can implement independently.
The MDHHS further recommends that residents check themselves and pets for ticks daily, wear light-colored clothing outdoors, shower after returning indoors, and place clothing in a dryer on high heat for a minimum of ten minutes following outdoor activity. Tick management performed by licensed pest control professionals has also been supported by CDC-reviewed research confirming that targeted acaricide applications to residential yards reduce tick populations and lower the risk of tick-borne disease transmission.
Professional Response Minimizes Risk Before Peak Season: Parshall Pest Control provides inspections and targeted treatments designed to reduce tick populations in residential and commercial properties throughout Grand Traverse County. The company's approach emphasizes early-season perimeter protection — a strategy supported by public health officials and independent research — during the critical window before tick populations peak in late spring and summer.
Customer testimonials reflect the company's commitment to effective, safe pest elimination. One Grand Rapids resident described a recent experience:
"The staff and service technician at Parshall were professional, informative, and solved our pest control issue we were dealing with! 10/10"
— Taylor Hammons Google review
Additional Tick Threats: The Lone Star Tick: Beyond Lyme disease, Michigan residents face an emerging threat from the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum), which has been expanding its range in Michigan. The Lone Star tick has been documented in Southwest Michigan and has been associated with alpha-gal syndrome, a condition that can trigger an allergic reaction to red meat following a tick bite. The MDHHS currently recognizes more than 20 known tick species in Michigan, with five species most likely to bite humans: the American dog tick, blacklegged tick, Lone Star tick, woodchuck tick, and brown dog tick.
About Parshall Pest Control: Parshall Pest Control is a licensed pest management company serving Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas of Kent County, Michigan. The company provides residential and commercial pest control services, including tick and stinging insect management, rodent exclusion, and perimeter protection programs. Property owners and managers seeking tick inspections or spring perimeter treatments are encouraged to contact Parshall Pest Control directly. https://parshallpestcontrol.com/exterminator-grand-rapids-kent-county.
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For more information about Parshall Pest Control, contact the company here:
Parshall Pest Control
Corey Parshall
616-327-5552
info@parshallpestcontrol.com
Parshall Pest Control Experts
1388 Comstock St.
Marne, MI 49435
Phone: (616) 327-5552
Email: info@parshallpestcontrol.com
