Erie County, NY- Republican Erie County Legislators are requesting a meeting with Health Commissioner Gale Burstein and Parks Commissioner Troy Schinzel to hear what Erie County is doing to manage the tick population. Recent news coverage indicates an increase in tick populations and tick-borne diseases. That in turn poses an increased danger to public health, like Lyme disease, which can result in debilitating symptoms. Last month, Erie County also announced the presence of Lone Star ticks. The bite of a Lone Star tick may cause humans to develop an allergy to red meat.
“This is very concerning. We need to focus on what the Parks and Erie County Health Departments can do to better manage the tick population,” said Minority Leader John Mills.
Peak tick season runs from mid-May to mid-August. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported higher numbers of emergency room visits related to tick bites as compared to last year and estimates of new cases of Lyme Disease are hitting record levels.
“We must recognize and make the immediate changes and change our current practices on county owned properties to remediate breeding grounds to keep ticks from breeding and keep residents safe from the spread of Lyme disease,” said Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro.
It is also concerning that Erie County has decided to allow grass to grow long in Erie County Parks. In fact, there are currently signs that read, “this area is returning to natural growth.” In addition, the grass along many county roadways is not being cut. This long grass is not only unsightly, but it is also a breeding ground for ticks. On our own Erie County Health Department website, they recommend keeping lawns mowed and edges trimmed to avoid ticks. We believe it’s necessary to continue cutting grass on property owned by Erie County to eliminate this risk.
“At a time when tick populations are exploding and Lyme disease cases are reaching record levels, Erie County should not be creating more habitat for ticks on public property. Residents deserve to know what the county is doing to address this growing public health concern and why county-owned land isn’t being held to the same standards being recommended to homeowners,” said Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo.
“I look forward to having this discussion to see if there is more we can do to manage tick populations and prevent the spread of diseases associated with them,” said Erie County Legislator Chris Greene.
Republican lawmakers say this discussion is necessary to develop a plan that can help greatly reduce the risk of ticks, which is creating health concerns for Erie County residents and visitors. By ensuring grass is cut and efforts are made to better manage the tick population on county property, we are taking proper steps to help keep Erie County residents safe.
