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A New Hobby? Wyoming Scientists Looking For People To Go Out And Collect Ticks

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Cowboy State Daily (7.14.2024) published the article, “A New Hobby? Wyoming Scientists Looking For People To Go Out And Collect Ticks.” The article describes an initiative in Wyoming where scientists are seeking volunteers to help collect ticks as part of a statewide research effort. The project, led by the Teton County Weed and Pest District, and supported by the University of Wyoming’s Biodiversity Institute, aims to survey and study the tick population in Wyoming. The goals include understanding how widespread ticks are, identifying the species present, and determining which diseases they carry.

Wyoming has had minimal tick surveillance in the past, leaving significant gaps in data. To address this, researchers are encouraging the public to participate by becoming “tick wranglers.” Volunteers are asked to drag a white cloth through brush and grasses to collect ticks, which they can then send in for laboratory analysis. This citizen scientist approach will help gather valuable data, even in areas where no ticks are found.

The article also discusses the diseases associated with ticks in Wyoming, such as Colorado tick fever and Q fever, which can cause cold or flu-like symptoms and, in some cases, lead to hospitalization. While Lyme disease is a serious tick-borne illness, so far there is no evidence that ticks in Wyoming carry it; most cases in the state are believed to have been contracted elsewhere.

That is why the project is crucial for public health, as understanding tick populations and the diseases they carry can lead to better protection measures for the community. The best time for collecting ticks is from April to October, with May, June, and July being particularly active months. The collected data will help scientists identify patterns and improve public health strategies.

For More Information: 

Read the Cowboy State Daily Article here.

Read more LDA Articles on Citizen Science here.