Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Grower182 t1_j4spak5 wrote

Reply to comment by NothingToSeeHere1670 in Vermont listed as possible future habitat for mountain lions by willynillyslide

I think the tick problem is cause by a loss of woodland birds like grouse.

29

[deleted] t1_j4tbrfx wrote

Also by the lack of harsh winters that used to kill them off.

19

NonDeterministiK t1_j4tekw8 wrote

I thought this also, but in fact ticks can survive very harsh winters by being on mammals

7

Szabko t1_j4votiz wrote

Ticks are also attracted to Japanese Barberry which is in invasive ornamental plant that self-propagates in the woods. Nurseries sell it. Eradicate that plant and you eradicate a lot of tick habitat, but also invite some opossums to help because similar to grouse they also love eating ticks.

3

bond___vagabond t1_j4w2osk wrote

Rattlesnakes too, I can't remember, but I think each adult rattler eliminates 50,000 ticks per year, just from the mice it eats eliminating the larval stage of the tick lifecycle!

2