2011 MIFD Lyme Disease
Prevention Program

I:  The MIFD Lyme Disease Prevention Program:

The MIFD Program includes a choice of two selected vendors outlined in the options listed below.  The first vendor is SeaScape Inc. (www.seascapeinc.com) who offers a program using Bifenthrin, a granular chemical proven to be effective in controlling tick populations.  The second vendor is BioTech Pest Controls (www.saferyardcare.com), a company who offers an organic tick control choice. 
(Missing from the MIFD options is the Max Force Tick Box Program www.nixtix.com offered by CT Tick Control.  They have declined to participate in our program.  But, we continue to support the Max Force Tick Box Program as a safe, vector specific an effective form of tick control.)  We encourage you to research each option to help you make an informed decision.  Any further questions may be directed to Mary McAuley. 

Earlier this year, MIFD residents were asked to sign up for any one of the following three options.  If you chose to participate, the cost of your chosen option was billed as a supplemental “tick tax” due March 31, 2011.  If you chose NOT to participate, no supplemental “tick tax” was billed to you in March. 

• Option I: SeaScape Inc.  (www.seascapeinc.com)

SeaScape Inc. will provide 3 applications of Bifenthrin for a total cost of $190 per property.  If you chose Option I, you will be billed $190 as a supplemental “tick tax” due March 31, 2011.  Bifenthrin is a broad based insecticide with proved effectiveness in controlling ticks.  It will be applied to the perimeter of each property excluding all wet lands. 

• Option II: BioTech Pest Controls (www.saferyardcare.com)

BioTech Pest Controls will provide 2 applications of Ecotrol EC and Ecopco G for a total cost of $225.  If you choose Option II, you will be billed $225 as a supplemental “tick tax” due March 31, 2011.  Ecotrol and Ecopco are organic based insecticides with Rosemary and Peppermint Oil as active ingredients. 

• Option III:  Do Not Participate

If you choose not to participate in the MIFD Lyme Disease Prevention program, you were not taxed.  You are, however, encouraged to pursue an alternative method of tick control on your property.  The more universal our tick control efforts, the more effective our program will be for all Mason’s Island residents.

II: Current Status:

In January of this year, you all received a mailing from the Lyme Disease Prevention Committee including a yellow sign up sheet and a survey.  We received a total of 142 responses to our mailing which represents a 79% response rate.  This was down slightly from an average of 81% over the lasts 4 years.  Results are as follows:

• SeaScape Lawn Care Inc. and BioTech Pest Control will be treating a total of 94 properties this year down from 98 last year.  This represents roughly 49% of the properties in the Fire District compared to 51% last year. 
• Another 24 property owners reported they had engaged in some other form of Tick control including 16 property owners going with the Max Force Tick Boxes (17 last year).
• This brings the total number of MIFD properties with tick control to 117 or 61% of properties down from 124 or 65% last year. 

While this coverage rate of 61% remains excellent particularly compared to surrounding communities, we have noted a gradual decline over the last 5 years in both response rates and coverage rates.  Historically, our response rates have averaged 80% - 85% compared to 78% this year, with tick control coverage rates averaging 70%-72% compared to this year’s coverage rate of 61%.  For those of you who have chosen not to treat your properties, I would ask you to please reconsider and engage in some form of tick control.  As I have mentioned before, the more universal our tick control is, the more we are all protected from Lyme Disease.

The first application of the MIFD tick control program will be completed in early May.  SeaScape will provide two additional applications: one in mid summer and another in early fall.  BioTech will provide a second application in late summer.  Some of you have asked to know specifically when your properties will be treated.  Unfortunately, this information is difficult to provide as treatments are weather dependent and advance scheduling would be an administrative burden which would add to the cost of treatment.   

III:  The 4-Poster Program:

I am pleased to report we are currently 2 ½ years into our 3 year scientific study of the use of the “4-Poster” Deer Treatment System on Mason’s Island.  We believe this program will significantly enhance and will hopefully replace our current Lyme Disease Prevention Program. 

For those of you who are new to the island, the “4-Poster” system is designed to kill the adult ticks on deer’s ears, heads, necks, and shoulders where 90% of adult ticks are attached.  The device uses corn to attract deer and, as the deer feed on the corn, they rub their head against EPA approved pesticide-impregnated rollers just like what you put on your dogs each month.  Additional information on the 4-poster Deer Treatment System is available at www.aldf.com/FourPosterDeerTreatmentBaitStation.htm.

We obtained the first and only permit ever issued from the CT DEP to implement the “4-Poster” program in May 2008.  We are very excited about this as studies have shown that use of the “4-poster” technology has resulted in a reduction in tick populations of 92 to 98% after three years of use.  Our hope is to replace the current MIFD tick control program with the “4-poster” program.  This will of course be dependent on the effectiveness of the new program which happily we have a concrete means of determining as outlined below.

IV: Scientific Study:

Our CT DEP permit was approved subject to our participation in a 3 year scientific study.  This study is being conducted by the CT DEP and conducted jointly by the CT DEP, the CT Agriculture Experiment Station and MIFD.  The study will determine the effects of the “4-Poster” Program on tick populations, tick infection rates, cases of Lyme Disease, and the effects on deer populations. 

As I mentioned, we have completed 2 ½ years of our 3 year study.  The devices were deployed at various designated locations throughout Masons Island.  Each year beginning in 2008, the devises have been deployed from October 1 through December 1 and March 1 thru the end of May.  Data are being collected on acorn, tick and deer populations at both Masons Island where the 4-poster devices are being used and Black Point as a “Control Site”.  Collecting data before and after use of the 4-poster system combined with data collected from the “Control Site” will allow researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the 4-poster devices.  Data is being collected in the following areas:

• Acorn production is being studied as it may influence deer use of the 4-poster devices and deer populations. Acorn surveys are being conducted annually to quantify acorn production. 
• Ticks are sampled by dragging a piece of fleece on the ground along walking trails, stone walls, yard edges and through open forest at the treated and Control Sites.  The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station examines all captured ticks to assess infection rates.  Potential effects of 4 poster devises on nymphal tick populations should be observable by June 2010.  Effect on total tick populations will be observable by June of 2011 due to the life cycle of the tick. 
• Deer populations are being tracked.  Overhead and Spotlight surveys have been conducted to determine the size of the deer herd and assess the number of fawns produced per doe.  Evaluating changes in the fawn/doe ratio will provide insight into how supplemental feed, used to attract deer to the 4-poster device, may affect deer herd health.  This data must be evaluated in conjunction with the acorn production data.
• Cases of Tick Borne Diseases are being counted.  Our MIFD annual surveys have recorded the number of cases of Lyme disease in the community to document changes in the number resulting from the program.

Baseline Tick Sampling Protocol compared to One year later: 

We will need a total of 4 years of data to reach any conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the 4-posters and the impact of the program on deer populations.  2010 data is not yet available.  The data collected thus far does seem to support a few early conclusions. 

1. Data collected over the last two available years supports the effectiveness of our current MIFD program in controlling tick populations.  There were roughly three times more ticks collected at the control site than on Masons Island in 2008 and twice as many in 2009. 
2. There appears to be a strong correlation between the tick populations and the number of deer on the island, i.e. the more deer we have, the more ticks we have.  From February 2008 to March 2009 the estimated size of the deer herd appeared to have increased and the number of ticks collected increased by about 60%.  The DEP was unable to conduct a reliable deer survey last winter but will be conducting spotlight counts over the summer. 
3. The Fawn to Doe ratio on Masons Island increased from 2008 to 2009.  This could be a result of better fed deer due to the 4-poster program but is more likely due to significantly more abundant acorn production during 2009.
4. Ideally, based on the size of the island, the DEP recommends a herd size of between 4 and 10 for our island.  This recommendation is based not only on reducing the risk of contracting Lyme disease but also to prevent the deer from damaging native plant communities.  Based on preliminary herd counts, we have roughly 5 times the recommended number of deer on the island.
5. There were 7 reported cases of Lyme or other tick borne diseases during the summer of 2010.  This compares to 5 reported cases during 2009, 7 in 2008, 11 in 2007 and 10 in 2006.  Of the 7 cases, 2 were dogs.  This data demonstrates our program is effective and successfully keeping a lid on the problem.  However, it is important we do not let our guard down.  I can’t urge you enough to take all possible precautions.  This is a very serious disease, particularly for those with compromised immune systems.  3 out of every 4 cases of Lyme Disease can be treated effectively with antibiotics.  However, 1 in 4 will have ongoing and often life long issues resulting from the disease.

 Size of Island
The island is between 1/3rd and 1/2 sq miles.  To take the conservative approach, let’s assume it is 1/2 sq miles.  If there are about 24 deer on 1/2 square miles, that is equivalent to 48 deer / square mile. 

Recommended deer densities
- To prevent deer from damaging native plant communities = 12-20 deer/sq mile
- To significantly reduce human risk of contracting Lyme Disease (with no 4-poster devices) = 8-10 deer/sq mile

Deer Herd Management Program
The CT DEP strongly recommends we institute a deer management program which would reduce our current herd down to about 10 and maintain this level by taking 2-3 deer per year thereafter.  This can be done through a bow hunting program, administered by the CT DEP.  It is up to individual property owners to contact the CT DEP and sign a Consent Form, copies of which are available through Linda Watkins.  Managing our deer population will further increase the effectiveness and decrease the cost of the 4-poster program.

V: Cost:

The cost of the entire 4-poster program is roughly $11,000 -$13,000 per year.  Assuming we will be able to replace our current program with the 4-poster program, this compares very favorably with the $25,000 to $30,000 per year residents are currently spending on tick control.  We won’t have scientific evidence to determine whether the program works until the Fall of 2011.  It is therefore very important we continue treating our properties for ticks until we have final results from our scientific study on the effectiveness of the “4-poster” Program.  For those of you interested in additional information on the “4-poster” program, please give me a call.  I have an extensive file on the subject.

VI:  The Survey:

Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who participated in our 2011 survey.  The surveys have provided us with critical information regarding your thoughts on this important issue.  In general, the survey underscored that the vast majority of residents are very much in favor of an island wide tick control program.  Many of you would prefer a more vector specific program such as the tick boxes, however, you understand that a high level of participation is critical to the overall effectiveness of any program.  Specific survey results include the following:
.

• A total of 104 (58%) property owners (120 or 66% last year) out of 180 responded to the survey.
• Of those who chose not to go with the MIFD program, the reasons cited were preferences for either the tick boxes or other tick control vendors or concerns about the use of a chemical pesticide in general. 
• Of those who chose not to participate in any form of tick control (16), the reasons cited were primarily a function of cost or financial resources, the house was not occupied, residents were moving, the property was under construction, or they disagreed in general with the use of pesticide.  There were two residents who felt it was not necessary as they had not had a problem with ticks or tick borne diseases.  Conversely, there were two residents who did not treat their properties because they felt they were going to get sick anyway. Some felt the MIFD program would not be effective for their property due to location, topography or property size.
• Suggestions on how we can improve the program were concentrated on getting the boxes back at a reasonable cost and to further increasing participation.  Most of you prefer a more vector specific form of tick control, however, cost is a huge consideration for this constituency.  Everyone seems to understand that low participation significantly reduces the effectiveness of any program.  The lower the cost, the higher the level of participation.  A summary of your other suggestions include:

• Reducing the number of deer on the island.
• Making participation mandatory and/or continuing to encourage all property owners to participate.
• Distributing a list of who does not participate so we can lobby them to join.
• Doing a program that allocates cost according to property size.
• Removing brush debris piles near trails, pond, extension of Old South, etc.  Having MIFD cuts back grasses, brush, etc regularly.
• Including literature on how to manage ticks on your property - See for example the 2005 Fact Sheet from the CT Dept of Agriculture.
• Stopping use of pesticides.  Focus on controlling deer & mice, maintaining ecological integrity of island through landscaping practices healthy.

 VII: Research:

We have continued to research the whole issue of Tick Control with the goal of developing the best possible community wide program.  Our primary program criteria is 1) effectiveness 2) cost and 3) environmental considerations.  We have had extensive conversations with various tick scientists asking for guidance as to how to proceed including Dr. Kirby Stafford, Vice Director and Chief Entomologist with the CT Department of Entomology and the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, Dr. Thomas Mather, the Director of the URI Center for Vector Borne Diseases and Dr. Mat Pound, Research Entomologist for the Knipling-Bushland US Livestock Insects Research Laboratory out of Kerry Texas.  All have recommended:

• Do Something!
• Selectively use insecticides combined with a comprehensive property management program.
• Continue to exercise good tick management techniques:
• Treat pets with tick control products.
• Wear protective clothing and shower after working outside.
• Check yourselves, your children and your pets frequently for ticks and tick bites. 
• Eliminate tick habitats from your properties by removing leaves, brush and debris.
• Keep areas under bird feeders clean.
• Refrain from feeding the deer.
• Control the deer population.
• Most importantly, have an organized comprehensive approach to the problem.

VIII: Going Forward:

Our plan is to continue with the MIFD program through the summer of 2011.  In the meantime, we will complete the 3 year 4-poster program and monitor the results of the scientific study. 

IX: Frequently Asked Questions:

Q:  Why can’t we get the Max Force Tick Boxes back?
A:  In 2006, we received a quote from CT Tick Control to provide Max Force Tick Boxes for the entire island.  The quote was $168,000 which was considered by MIPOA resident to be cost prohibitive.  Residents instead voted to treat their properties individually.  We subsequently developed the existing MIFD Lyme Disease Prevention Program.  We have asked CT Tick Control to participate in our program but they have declined.  We have asked if they would be willing to negotiate a group discounted price to no avail.  The Max Force Tick Boxes are available for purchase directly from CT Tick Control.  Individuals who are interested should contact CT Tick Control directly at 1-888-649-8452 or www.nixticks.com.

Q:  We would like to know the dates of application and an explanation of why those dates were chosen.
A:   The exact dates of application of both SeaScape and BioTech treatments are a function of weather and vendor schedules.  There will be three SeaScape applications.  The first application will be in early spring when the tick season begins.  If we have an early spring they will come in late April.  If the weather remains cold, they will push the treatment back to early May.  Each application lasts approximately 3 months.  The second application will be in late July and the final application will be in Oct/Nov.  BioTech will apply two treatments, one in early spring and the second in late fall.  Applications are designed to span the entire tick season.  Some of you have asked to know specifically when your properties will be treated.  Unfortunately, this information is difficult to provide as treatments are weather dependent (no rain) and advance scheduling would be an administrative burden which would add to the cost of treatment.  

Q: Biotech also has rodent control.  They also carry the ticks.  Have you looked into it? 
A: Mice do indeed carry ticks and are the responsible vector for infecting deer ticks with the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease.  We encourage all residents to do what you can to control the mice population on your properties provided your methodology does not poison the birds that eat the mice.  We believe the BioTech mice control meets those specifications.  However, we encourage you to check with them prior to using their rodent control on your property.

Q: Can we organize an Island wide Deer Hunt?
The CT DEP strongly recommends we institute a deer management program which would reduce our current herd down to about 10 and maintain this level by taking 2-3 deer per year thereafter.  This can be done through a bow hunting program, administered by the CT DEP.  It is up to individual property owners to contact the CT DEP and sign a Consent Form, copies of which are available through Linda Watkins.