When you think of a deer population, you may picture majestic creatures peacefully grazing in fields or forests.
However, there is another side to a deer population that often goes unnoticed. Deer overpopulation can cause many problems for the land where the animals reside, and for humans who come into contact with them. Overcrowded deer can lead to more ticks. In this article we will discuss what causes deer overpopulation and why it can cause more ticks.
What is Deer Overpopulation?
Deer overpopulation is the term given to when there are more deer than the land can sustain. Too many deer can cause many problems for both deer and humans. When deer are overpopulated in a given region, they compete with other animals for food and can compete with farmers for safe pastures. Where deer are overpopulated, there can be increased risk for drivers vs. deer encounters.
Why Does Deer Overpopulation Cause More Ticks?
Deer are host to many different parasites that can infect other animals, including humans. Deer are hosts to a variety of tick species. These parasites can infect both humans and domestic animals such as cattle and horses. The deer tick is native to the Eastern United States, but has now spread westward into the Great Plains and California. It stands to reason, the more plentiful the tick hosts, the more plentiful the tick populations. If deer find their way onto your property, they can carry ticks with them.
Merrimack Tick Control Methods Don’t Include Controlling Deer Populations
There are a number of recommendations for controlling deer populations. From providing more food sources, to eliminating competitors of food sources, to eliminating deer populations with hunting. Your best bet for controlling the number of ticks on your property does not involve controlling the deer population around your home. It’s about controlling the ticks. This is because ticks feed on many other species, including the white footed mouse, the biggest spreader of Lyme infection.
At-home Merrimack tick control should be employed from April all the way through October in the Northeastern United States. This is because adult deer ticks are scrounging for their final blood meal before bedding down for winter. Tick control is deployed in two manners. One is by barrier protection spray. This method is commonly used in the springtime and summer. When autumn is afoot, tick tubes are the preferred tick control method. These tubes contain treated cotton that mice carry to their nests, which will eliminate ticks and their offspring without harming the mice. Ultimately, this level of tick control results in fewer ticks emerging in the springtime.
Also read: Why is Lyme disease on the rise?