wetter winter could be contributing to the larger numbers of mice they like to feed on, and more ticks means more tick-borne illnesses like lyme disease. the c.d.c. s most recent data shows cases in 48 states with nearly half a million americans being treated for it every year. so they re looking for blood, basically. they can be as small as a poppy seed. reporter: parish was infected seven years ago on the beach in new jersey. at one point, she went into heart failure. within five month of that tick bite, i lost every part of who i was. reporter: scientists say it s not the sand sun bathers need to worry about, but, rather, the walk to it. these are things people in california don t think about when they re going to the beach. i hope that this study will bring light to the fact that it is here. reporter: finding ticks early support key to avoiding lyme disease, so check when you get home. and then take a hot shower. finally, put your clothes in a hot dryer, and that will k