Dear Readers,

So, the cold winds are blowing, the weatherman is predicting another storm, the little stream down the hill is frozen and the nation's groundhogs predict we will have six more weeks of winter. Swell.

While searching for some good news to balance the usual quota of of auto crashes, fires and letters from people mad at our public officials for one thing or another, I wondered if our recent spell of sub zero temperatures would have any effect on one of my least favorite woodland creatures — ticks.

After all, it seems logical that the tiny critter that can cause huge health problems would be hurt by our bitter winter's cold. Right?

Well, don't get your hopes up, said a state tick expert.

Clay Kirby, an insect diagnostician with the University of Maine Extension Service, says despite the cold spell, the creatures who live in the “leaf-litter zone,” like ticks, are just fine, as long as there is snow cover. “It is excellent insulation for them,” he said.

Now, if the snow is gone and the thermometer dives to, say -20 F during the day for a week or so, that could be a different story. Kirby explained that back in the 1970s, we had several weeks of -20 F weather and that seemed to have an effect on the summer's population of ticks, Japanese beetles, earwigs and slugs.

But so far, this winter has not been cold enough to put a major dent in the creatures that live in the “leaf-litter zone.”

By the way, when the temperatures climb above freezing and get around 40 F or so, if you have to go outside, and happen to wander off the path,  or bushwhack through the brush on a scouting mission to see if, say, your favorite trout stream is still there, be sure to perform a quick “tick check,” said Kirby.

The summertime rules still apply when we get a thaw. When you venture into the woods or brush, always wear light colored clothing so you can see the ticks, tuck your pant legs into your socks and always wear a hat. When you get out of the woods, stop for a moment and do a quick “tick check.” Do it again when you get home, and repeat the process when you step in the shower before going to bed, he said.

Remember, be careful. Some ticks carry Lyme disease and that is not a disease to take lightly, he said.

But, getting back to the original question about ticks and cold weather, Kirby said it would take a stretch of -20 F weather to make a dent in the tick population, come spring.

And as much as he would like the tick census to drop, he is not hoping for a bitter cold spell.

“Do I wish for 20 below weather? I don't think so,” he said.

Amen to that.