Thankfully, Powassan virus is still rare in Minnesota, but that is not the case for the deadliest creature on earth, which is ...

The virus, spread by ticks, can cause a disease that leads to swelling of the brain and permanent health problems in half of severe cases.

Groundhog Tick. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Ixodes cookei, or Groundhog tick, usually prefers groundhogs and skunks but will feed on humans or pets if its usual hosts aren’t nearby.

Blacklegged ticks now account for 99% of reported tick bite illnesses in Vermont, and more than half tested carry Lyme disease.

Woodchuck tick: Also known as the groundhog tick, it is often found on pets near dens of skunks and woodchucks throughout the state. Brown dog tick: Survives and breeds indoors, and associated ...