Fear Over Facts: Why Joplin’s Deer Ordinance Misrepresents Lyme Disease
When the Joplin City Council passed its urban hunting ordinance, it claimed the move would help “reduce the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease” and “minimize tick-borne illness” within city limits. But the science doesn’t support that narrative and the fear being spread about Lyme disease is not just misleading, it’s dangerous. The Deer Tick Myth Let’s be clear: deer do not carry Lyme disease . The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), often called the “deer tick,” is simply one of many hosts for the Lyme-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi . “ Deer are a source of blood for ticks and important to tick survival and movement to new areas. However, deer are not infected with Lyme disease bacteria and do not infect ticks .” Ticks become infected by feeding on small mammals , especially white-footed mice , which are the true reservoirs of Lyme disease. Removing deer from the landscape does not eliminate ticks and it does not stop Lyme disease. Every...
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