It's tick season again. Here's how to avoid the disease-carrying pests

Minnesota's tick season has already begun, and experts say the parasites are hungry after a long winter.

"We found our first deer ticks of the year April 12. Then we had that huge snowstorm and they relaxed for a while, but we're seeing them again this week," Metropolitan Mosquito Control District tick specialist Janet Jarnefeld said.

• Watch: How a tick digs its hooks into you

The year's heavy snowfall actually helped tick populations by insulating their winter habitat, Jarnefeld said.

So how to deal with the pests? Here are Jarnefeld's tips to prevent tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease:

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