If you've been out at Meadowbrook Park recently, you may have noticed a group of people dragging fabric contraptions through the prairie. A research team from the Illinois Natural History Survey-Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiology Lab at the University of Illinois is collecting ticks in sections of the park for analysis.
To collect specimens through "tick dragging," researchers pull flag-like white cloths along grass and vegetation. If a tick is picked up, the light color of the fabric makes it easier to spot. Ticks of all stages (larvae, nymphs and adults) collected are then sent back to the lab for tick identification.
Note in the photo below, the team's protective clothing to minimize skin exposure to sun and facilitate seeing ticks on themselves while they drag for ticks - A good reminder for all to use sun protection and check yourselves for ticks when spending time in natural areas!
