I’ve written about a lot of parasites over the years, but for some reason I haven’t gotten around to one that’s intensely familiar to suburbanites: the tick. Recently, Outside asked me to write a feature about these blood-sucking creatures–exploring their chilling sophistication as blood-suckers and their disturbing ability to spread pathogens. Fortunately (if that’s how you want to think about it) I live in Tick Central, otherwise known as Connecticut. To report on Lyme Disease, I can drive up the road to Lyme. My story is in the June issue of Outside. Check it out.
Originally published April 30, 2013. Copyright 2013 Carl Zimmer.