Tick Management

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture has been collecting ticks throughout the state.  Ticks found on household pets were submitted voluntarily by veterinarians and identified by Patricia Hanson of the Vermont Department of Forest and Parks.  This study helped us understand the distribution patterns of the various species of ticks found in the state.  Another study looked at ticks collected off deer on the opening day of deer hunting season.  We have found that deer ticks are now present in every county of the state.  This is the tick species that may transmit Lyme disease to humans and dogs.  PCR testing done at the Department of Agriculture Waterbury lab has determined that a small percentage of the deer ticks in these two studies carried Lyme disease.