Tough winter? Not for ticks

In the midst of a miserable winter, Minnesotans hoped the cold and snow would at least kill off obnoxious and dangerous pests such as ticks. No such luck. According to the Minnesota Department of Health this week, deer ticks and wood ticks — the ones most likely to affect people — weathered the season just fine and are expected to continue spreading disease at high rates. Last year saw a record number of reported Lyme disease cases in Minnesota. But there is a bit of good news. Two harsh winters in a row apparently did do a number on a different kind of tick — the winter tick, which is the one responsible for part of the decline in Minnesota's moose population. Tom Weber will talk to two tick experts about the mixed blessings of the polar vortex.