Estimating Tick Population Densities and Lyme Disease Infection Rates in Communities from Onondaga County

The focus of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of deer management at the community level for reducing densities of nymphal ticks and potential Lyme disease transmission. We will conduct tick drags in communities with 5 or more years of deer culling (removal) and compare those to communities with no deer removal in Onondaga County. 

The Onondaga CCE County Association has coordinated available funding and deer management efforts by USDA-Wildlife Services staff for more than 7 years. We want to learn if this ongoing program has effectively reduced nymphal tick abundance and potential disease risk in communities where deer numbers have been lowered.

Roles and responsibilities 

The student will deploy Federal CDC-approved tick sampling protocols (drag samples) for black-legged ticks to determine nymphal tick abundance and density in communities in Onondaga County engaging in deer management. The intern will learn about necessary PPE and how to safely and effectively collect, identify, and process nymphal tick samples for laboratory disease analysis.

In collaboration with CCE staff, the intern will also develop educational materials to train volunteers and 4-H camp staff on tick-bite prevention. This intern will compliment ongoing programming efforts concerning tick management and Lyme disease reduction by Cornell Cooperative Extension staff. The student should be comfortable working both independently and as a CCE team member.
 

Qualifications and previous coursework

This opportunity is available to non-graduating students in Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

• Coursework in entomology, basic statistics, sampling design, and ecology
• Some experience with field sampling methods, data collection and tick identification
• Must be willing to work outdoors under various weather and field conditions
• Students should have excellent communication skills
• A driver’s license and a year of driving experience is required

Learning outcomes 

• Identify common tick species and life stages
• Understand field sampling designs and data collection protocols
• Understand personal protection strategies and ways to minimize risk from tick bites
• Become familiar with preparing field samples for follow-up lab analyses
• Develop and deliver educational materials concerning tick ecology