Every year, Sam Telford is asked the same question. "How bad will this year's tick season be?"

Telford, a professor of Infectious Diseases and Global health at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, gives the same answer. It's never going to be a good tick season, so take the same precautions as always.

"People just need to just take the precautions as part of their normal behavior," said Telford. "Get into the habit of reaching for the repellent every time we go outdoors."

This applies not only to hikers and dog walkers but gardeners and landscapers, anyone who may be digging around in backyard bushes.

Learn how to protect yourself at heraldnews.com.