Tick Presentation Recap
On Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 6:30 p.m., the Orleans Conservation Trust (OCT) hosted the second of three presentations in our Fall 2014 Lecture Series at the Orleans Yacht Club. Larry Dapsis, Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Deer Tick Project Coordinator & Entomologist, educated and entertained the 35 attendees with his presentation titled “Ticks: One Bite Can Change Your Life.”
Larry’s very first slide contained the quote “I love everything in the world…except for ticks…,” proving the Dalai Lama himself has a distaste for the dreaded tick. This may be for good reason. It is estimated that there are nearly 900 different species of ticks found worldwide, and the reported cases of diseases associated with ticks bites is on the rise in the United States. Forty-nine out of the fifty states within the US are home to the Black-legged Tick (still commonly referred to as the Deer Tick), and the number of cases of Lyme Disease that was once estimated at 30,000 per year by the Center for Disease Control in 2012 has now jumped to more than 300,000 cases per year.
Not to fret, Larry presented a three phase approach to preventing diseases associated with tick bites. This included protecting yourself, protecting your yard, and protecting your pets. More specifically, Larry described how to properly check for ticks and remove ticks, what types of protective clothing is available, and ways in which you can properly and effectively use protective yard sprays. Larry even touched upon what products you can consider using on your pets to protect them from tick bites.
To listen to Larry’s presentation click HERE.
Special thanks to the Orleans Yacht Club for continuing to host OCT’s educational lectures and to all those who attend and support the programs. Stay tuned! In the next month OCT will be finalizing its Winter/Spring 2015 lecture series. These programs will be included in our Fall 2014 newletter and on the Trust website.