Recently returned from a week long trip to an area I had been through about two years ago. On previous trip, I had seen three ticks the entire trip. This year, I pulled around a hundred off. The interesting (to me) part is that almost every tick was from a campsite or portage trail. I only had one tick on me while bushwhacking or exploring surrounding areas of the forest. Anyone else finding substantially more ticks???

Many more than usual. We were in June 1-6.

It was a tick fest.

Recently back from a week-long trip up the moose river. I pulled one tick off and that was the only one we saw all week. I've been hearing reports of heavy ticks, but I've hardly seen any in all my trips.

We had a lot up the moose river near Gebe... but only wood ticks so not a huge deal. Here in Itasca county it seems we are the epicenter for deer ticks

Years ago like the Gunflint trail in the 1970's they said there was no ticks up and few at the Ely end.
Deer ticks are just starting to show up in the BWCA and common along the north shore. They suck literally.

In the Baker Lake area June 1-6 our group of four only found one tick on us collectively. But we all treat our clothes and gear with permethrin, which is nearly 100% effective against ticks in my experience.

Luckily, all were wood ticks. Unlike here in PA where there are deer ticks everywhere. My gear is all treated with permethrin.

It seems ticks are becoming more numerous in general, not just in the BWCA. They need warmth and moisture/humidity, heavy cover/undergrowth to hold in the moisture and harbor small mammals which they also need, and presence of more larger mammals help as well.

Combo of lack of forest fires, invasive plant species, and probably other factors like deer moving in probably all contribute.

Warmer Winters & Climate Change have allowed ticks to survive and move North with migratory birds. Black legged ticks (Deer Ticks) were first identified in the Thunder Bay area by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit in 2005, The First case of Lyme Disease was confirmed in 2010. 40 percent of the Deer Ticks in the Thunder Bay Area carry Lyme Disease according to the Thunder Bay District Health unit. Small mammals like White footed mice are a common carrier as well as larger mammals like Deer.