In many parts of the country, spring into fall is the "hot season" for Lyme disease. Upwards of 70% of Lyme disease victims are infected in their own yards, and the number of Lyme disease cases has been climbing in recent years. Fortunately, the arsenal of tick-control measures has also recently expanded, and these tick-thwarting strategies are detailed in the new book "Ticks Off! Controlling Ticks That Transmit Lyme Disease on Your Property".
The tick control measures described in the book focus on two main themes; landscape alterations and host control. These strategies, applied in tandem, are likely to be more effective in substantially reducing tick populations compared to using any single method of tick control.
As Lyme disease has become more common in many parts of the United States, more and more property owners are seriously exploring tick control measures. Ticks Off! is designed as a concise, up-to-date resource for controlling Lyme disease-transmitting ticks. Written by an experienced tick biologist, this book will give you the tools to make your yard inviting for humans, but not for ticks. Heavily referenced so you can do further research yourself on ticks and tick control. Softcover, eighty pages, 13 illustrations.
Patrick Guilfoile, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biology at Bemidji State University, in northern Minnesota. From his first backpacking trip in Wisconsin in the late 1970 s, when he spent several sleepless nights removing ticks from his tent, sleeping bag, and person, he has maintained an interest in ticks. In recent years he has conducted research and published several articles on the biology of blacklegged ticks in scientific journals including The Journal of Vector Ecology, The Journal of Medical Entomology, and Experimental and Applied Acarology.