289 - Tick Management Strategies in a Northeastern Park

Abstract: The number of reported human cases of tick-borne pathogens has increased dramatically in recent years.  And although the number of pathogens recently found to be transmitted by ticks has increased, Borrelia burgdorferi is still the primary tick-borne pathogen transmitted in the United States. It has been reported that there may be as many as 300,000 people per year diagnosed with Lyme disease.  However, most districts and health departments throughout the U.S. struggle to find a proper strategy to manage the tick populations most responsible for causing this rise in tick-borne diseases. Even though the methods for managing ticks are largely the same as they were 20 years ago, large scale management programs are rarely attempted or successful.  In a small northeastern park, there has been a highly successful program in place since 2015.  Prior to instituting the tick management program, visitors reported tick-bites daily during the active tick season.  Since management operations began, tick bite reports have declined significantly and surveillance data demonstrate a dramatic decrease in questing Ixodes scapularis. The various components of this program will be presented and discussed as a template for other programs to follow.