TickEase Founder Helping Control Suburban Deer Populations
TickEase Founder Helping Control Suburban Deer Populations
by Ted Lund
Private landowners and municipalities in the suburban Metro West area of Boston area are turning to TickEase inventor and founder Dan Wolff in an effort to control exploding deer populations with hopes of controlling tick populations and their potential for spreading disease through contact with animals and humans.
“We’re seeing deer densities of somewhere between 26 and 32 deer per mile in our area,” says Wolff. “Ideally, according to the MASSWildlife biologists, the ideal carrying capacity is 6 to 8 deer per mile in our area. If we can significantly reduce the number of deer, it will help control the number of ticks and their potential for disease to spread.”
The ongoing population among whitetail deer in the suburban area has led to an explosion in tick populations; capable of laying up to 3,000 eggs. The explosion has translated into more human-tick interactions that have led to the spread of diseases like babesiosis, anaplasmosis, Powwasan virus and Lyme disease.
In an effort to control numbers of suburban deer (and ticks), homeowners and municipalities are turning to Wolff’s group, Mass Deer Service.
“Because these are residential areas, firearms aren’t really an option,” says Wolff. “So what I’ve done is created a group that insures and qualifies individual bowhunters to come into residential areas and harvest deer.”
As part of the stipulations of the program, Wolff requires that all of the venison meat is used for consumption. But managing deer populations is just one part of the equation. Outdoorsmen also need to be prepared to deal with ticks when found on humans or animals — and that’s where TickEase comes in.
“I designed TickEase with a very fine-tipped pair of tweezers at one end that is perfect for removing even the smallest ticks from humans quickly and effectively,” says Wolff. “The other end of the tool features a slotted scoop that is
perfect for removing those big, engorged, blueberry-sized ticks from pets and other animals.”
Some 300,000 Americans are affected by Lyme disease every year; early detection and removal is essential to preventing infection. TickEase is the right tool to make that possible.
“We want to give outdoor enthusiasts, families and pet owners peace of mind by providing a safe and effective tool
for removing ticks,” says Wolff. “We promote education, awareness and prevention steps to combat the increased incidences of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses nationally and around the world.”
For more information on ticks, tick-borne illnesses, or to purchase TickEase (MSRP $11.99), visit www.tickease.com. You can also follow them on Facebook for frequent updates or visit their Vimeo site for informative videos on ticks and tick removal.
Original Source; Sportsmans Lifestyle.com
