Ticks May Be Common Problem in City Parks
Posted on February 25, 2014 12:58
A recent study done by University of Bristol researchers suggests that ticks may be a common issue in parks, in and around cities. Ticks are a common type of parasites that not only cause skin irritation in pets but also spread disease pathogens when they feed on blood. They are particularly active in the early summer and spring months.
This particular study looked at the rates at which dogs taken to a popular park just outside the city suffered from tick infestation. The researchers looked at the number of ticks in different habitats in the park over a year and the pattern of pet dog movements through GPS recorders on the collars. These locators allowed researchers to track the walking routes of the dogs.
During the study, it was found that most of the ticks were present in the rough grass and wooded areas of the park, especially in areas where deer were present.
Tick infestation frequency was also found to be surprisingly high, with some dog owners reported 4-5 bites in their dogs every week. The risk was primarily linked to their frequency of visiting the park.
The researchers suggested that pet dogs could act as sentinels and indicate the risk for humans. They concluded by saying that bite exposure was unexpectedly high in pets and pet owners need to be aware of these potential risks, even in seemingly risk-free habitats like local parks.
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