A recent study conducted by University of Ottawa researchers has revealed that the application of woodchips on forest trails can significantly decrease the local tick population. This finding suggests that a simple and low-tech approach could help minimize the risk of tick bites and the transmission of Lyme disease to hikers in wooded areas.
The research team selected two locations within Ottawa’s Greenbelt for their study: the Mer Bleue sector in the east and the Stony Swamp sector in the west. They divided 20 trail sections, each measuring 50 meters in length, and treated them with either untreated woodchips or woodchips treated with deltamethrin, a pesticide commonly utilized for mosquito control.
Results showed that using untreated woodchips led to a 50% reduction in tick numbers, while the application of woodchips treated with deltamethrin resulted in a remarkable 99% decrease in tick populations, as stated by Katarina Ost, a researcher involved in the project.
Ost explained that woodchips serve as a deterrent to ticks because these tiny arachnids typically climb vegetation, like grass, to attach themselves to hikers or their pets. By placing woodchips on the trails, the growth of vegetation necessary for ticks to climb is impeded.
She emphasized that utilizing woodchips on wider trails with high tick density could be a viable solution on a larger scale. The study also found that deltamethrin, the pesticide used on woodchips, poses no threat to pets as it remains localized once applied.
In addition to trail maintenance, the federal government recommends creating a border of wood chips, mulch, or gravel around lawns to create an inhospitable environment for ticks. Dr. Christopher Labos, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at McGill University, highlighted the significance of controlling tick populations to prevent the spread of tick-borne diseases.
While the study demonstrated the efficacy of woodchips in reducing tick numbers, further research is needed to determine the direct impact on Lyme disease cases. Labos stressed the importance of validating the correlation between reduced tick populations and decreased Lyme disease instances to ensure medical efficacy.
The study’s findings offer valuable insights into tick prevention strategies and highlight the potential benefits of using woodchips to mitigate tick populations in forested areas.
