New Tick Eradication Program Slated For Southold Preserve

SOUTHOLD, NY — With tick season in full force and 2017 expected to be the worst in years on Long Island, Southold officials are taking steps to kick off a pilot tick eradication program on a town preserve.

"Every year is a bad year, but this year is exceedingly bad," said Southold Town Director of Public Works Jeff Standish.

A new horse trail that opened last year in Southold is so badly infested that it's impossible to bring the horses inside, according to resident Jill Franke, who said she reached out with concerns when her horse was covered with ticks after a visit to the trail. She noted that she'd sprayed her horse before heading to the trail.

Even after lint rolling and bathing the horse and washing all of her own clothes, the ticks, sometimes extremely tiny, were still found. She has researched organic solutions, she said.

"It's really bad," Franke said.

Town officials have embarked on field work to determine the extend of the problem, Standish said.

According to Standish, new Southold wildlife manager Craig Jobes went to the horse trail on North Bayview and made three passes, one on the right, one on the left, and one in the center, staying on the trail and not venturing into the woods.

When Jobes emerged, he was covered with a wide array of ticks, including Lone star and wood ticks; he displayed a sheet of all the ticks found, pictured above.

Next, after using Deep Woods Off, an insect repellent, that time, only six ticks were found after the three passes.

Jobes has created a tick prevention sheet, which Standish said he'd like to see downsized and laminated, distributed on trial heads at kiosks near the preserves.

Standish said the goal is to kick off a pilot program on one preserve, spraying the area with natural cedar oil, using a blower or fogger.

The cost of the pilot program would be $1,000 for the blower and the first gallon of cedar oil; the oil-based product lasts for a month, Standish said.

Public education is critical, Standish said. Residents who walk in the woods must protect themselves with tick repellent, he said.

And, he added, even with the spraying of the natural product, rain can still wash some away; the spray won't ensure complete protection all the time. "People should still cover themselves," he said.

"Cedar oil is less impactful on the environment," said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell. While the oil might be a bit costly and regular maintenance might be needed, "If we pick one preserve for the pilot it will be a good basis for decision making over the next few years."

"There's no one solution — but this is a great start," said Councilwoman Jill Doherty.

Councilman Bob Ghosio said the reason for the increased number in ticks is the warmer weather; ticks did not die off during the winter months as they sometimes do.

Standish suggested that possibly, Community Preservation Funds might be used for the pilot since the parameters of the plan differ from the 4-Poster tick management plan.

Russell said the tick prevention sheets can be laminated and displayed around town preserves.