BDN reports on UMaine research about ticks in Acadia National Park, interviews Dr. Allison Gardner

The Bangor Daily News reported on a new study from the University of Maine that has found clusters of tick populations in Acadia National Park, which could help inform prevention strategies for tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Researchers found that tick density varies significantly across the park, but is particularly high in areas with deciduous forest cover and relatively low elevation, especially the northeast area of Mount Desert Island. “Understanding the spatial distribution of tick exposure risk in the park may ultimately inform practical environmental and public health management strategies. For example, the National Park Service could post informational signage in areas that have high tick densities, or build boardwalks in known tick habitat,” said Allison Gardner, associate professor of arthropod vector biology at the UMaine School of Biology and Ecology.