Project period: 9 1 23-8 31 25PROJECT title: an integrated approach to tick surveillance, management, and outreach in northern new england: vermont partnerticks and tick-borne diseases are on the rise…

The University of Vermont & State Agricultural College (UVM) was awarded a $333,333 cooperative agreement by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the USGS Research and Data Collection program (CFDA 15.808). The project aims to advance integrated tick management using a One Health approach focused on surveillance, suppression, and outreach in northern New England. Key activities include designing a regional tick and tick-borne disease surveillance plan, pilot testing an integrated tick management strategy incorporating biological control and host deterrence, developing training materials to enhance workforce capacity for tick surveillance, and expanding public education and outreach on ticks and tick-borne disease prevention. The project has a performance period from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2025.

Project period: 9 1 23-8 31 25PROJECT title: an integrated approach to tick surveillance, management, and outreach in northern new england: vermont partnerticks and tick-borne diseases are on the rise in northern new england as tick ranges expand. Maine and vermont are top states for lyme disease and anaplasmosis, caused by bacteria from blacklegged tick bites. Winter ticks have been causing unprecedented declines in the health and productivity of moose. The asian longhorned tick is encroaching on the southern edge of the region. Chemical pesticides applied to the landscape or used on domestic animals and livestock, as well as repellants used by humans, are the primary means of managing ticks, despite the potential negative impacts from these products to humans, animals and non-target organisms. Purpose. This project will advance integrated tick management using a one health approach focused on surveillance, suppression and outreach. The one health approach recognizes that the health of people, animals and the environment is interconnected, and a multi-faceted strategy is needed to reduce tick populations and prevent the spread of tick-borne diseases. This project addresses integrated tick management through research on tick and host distributions and biological control using entomopathogenic fungal biopesticides, and outreach to the public. Activities to be performed. Working with federal and state agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders in northern new england (vermont, maine, new hampshire), a regional tick and tick-borne disease surveillance plan will be designed for federal, state, tribal, and private lands. A review of existing tick surveillance plans will be made, from which a comprehensive surveillance plan will be developed based on regional priorities, building on current programs and resources. Components of the plan will be pilot tested to assess their suitability and reliability to inform key tick management decision-makers.an integrated tick management strategy focusing on host deterrence and biological control within high-risk tick management zones will be pilot tested. For this field trial, the efficacy of a fungal-based biopesticide will be assessed in combination with perimeter fencing to deter medium-to-large mammal tick hosts in residential areas. The impact of the fungal treatment will also be evaluated for its effect on select non-target arthropods. Working with the US geological service, and other federal agencies and state collaborators, the project leaders will develop materials to enhance surveillance capacity of appropriate workforce personnel for tick and tick-borne disease workshops for scientists, technicians, non-governmental organization partners and citizens, as part of on-going training conducted by the US geological survey. The project leaders will also participate in meetings to integrate an interjurisdictional one health approach to tick management in northern new england. Public education and outreach about ticks and tick-borne disease prevention will be expanded throughout the region. Deliverables expected outcomes. The univ. Of vermont tick website will be expanded and updated with regionally appropriate materials. Factsheets and educational materials relating to ticks and tick-borne disease prevention will be produced for the public and disseminated widely across the region. Presentations will be given at stakeholder partner events. The regional surveillance plan will be compiled in collaboration with federally-led working groups, uploaded to the univ. Of vermont website and prepared as a peer-reviewed publication. Intended beneficiaries. This project will benefit all those who live and work in or visit northern new england and their pets and livestock and wildlife by advancing a one health approach to integrated tick management and increasing public awareness to reduce risks associated with encountering ticks or diseases they transmit.