The picturesque Windswept Cranberry Bogs on Polpis Road is one of the many places on Nantucket that ticks lay in wait.
Dr. Tim Lepore is a local expert in the realm of tick-borne diseases.
An up-close image of a Deer Tick.
From the Windswept Cranberry Bogs to the beach grass blanketing the sandy dunes, Nantucket is known around the world for its bountiful and natural beauty. But deep beneath the rolling grassy hills and thick wooded areas lives a creature that has been ticking off both islanders and visitors alike for a number of years.
They are Ixodes scapularis, otherwise known at the Deer Tick, and the Dermacentor variabilis, a.k.a. the Dog Tick, and within the two-year lifespan of the tick, infection can come in a few different forms. The most common tick-borne infection is Lyme Disease, followed by Babesia Microti and Anaplasma, a.k.a. Ehlichiosis.
Dr. Tim Lepore is considered the expert in the realm of ticks and tick-borne infections, both on and off-island. Currently, he is working on a treatment for Babesia Microti, and is looking to secure a grant to continue research throughout the summer months.
Nantucket's Staggering Stat-tick-stics
Lepore said, "There were 53 cases of Babesia last year. That is high for us [on Nantucket]." He also said there were 190 cases of Lyme Disease on the island, and 20 cases of Anaplasma. "10% of our patients have a co-infection," continued Lepore, explaining that this meant they could have a combination of two or three of the tick-related diseases.
"When the figures come in, we will have the highest incidence in the world for one location, a 45-square mile area," Lepore said.
Preventing Tick Bites
So how can you prevent exposing yourself to a tick bite? Take a look at some simple tips from Dr. Lepore himself:
- Check yourself for ticks, and have someone check you as well.
- "Buzz-off" pants repel ticks and insects. Insect repellent is another way, too.
- Wear light-colored clothing to see if there are any hitchiking ticks after a walk in the woods.
- Tuck your pants into your socks when going outdoors.
- Avoid "ticky" areas, like the woods and high grassy places.
- Keep your pets indoors as much as possible. "Outdoor cats are risk factors for developing Lyme Disease," said Lepore.
- Trimming your yard's brush helps keep ticks at bay.
- Don't plant greenery that attracts deer, since deer are what the Deer Ticks need to survive.
Deer ticks hatch from August to September. "The larval ticks are not infected when they hatch," explained Lepore, continuing that they feed off of voles and mice carrying infection. Come April, right before the crowded summer months, these newly-infected ticks are "waiting for the tourists" according to Lepore.
More Deer = More Ticks
It's a fact: the higher the deer herd population, the more ticks we are bound to have. "From the end of April to the end of June we see the highest number of cases. And they need deer blood to successfully reproduce," Lepore stated.
"Island-wide, there are too many deer," Lepore said, a topic he
feels strongly about, "Reducing the deer herd will lead to reducing a
number of tick-borne diseases."
According to NantucketConservationFoundation.com:
"The 2007 Massachusetts deer hunting seasons are as follows: archery, October 15 - November 24; shotgun, November 26 - December 8; muzzleloader, December 10 - 31. By law, hunting is only permitted between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset. Hunting is prohibited on Sundays."
Take a look at our video below for more information on Nantucket's hunting season.
Video
Plum headed out with local hunter Matt Dixon and MassWildlife representatives Marion Larson and James Cardoza to learn more about
deer hunting on the Nantucket.
Add your comments...