4 Poster Tick Management Control Program

 

NYSDEC has finally received FINS permit allowing the western FI communities to redeploy 4-posters through September 31, 2011 - but is it too late?

 

Hello everyone,

Vincent Palmer, NYSDEC has finally received FINS permit (attached) allowing the western FI communities to redeploy 4-posters through September 31, 2011.  Due to the delay in putting out the devices, the ticks that emerged and began questing in March/April/early May were not destroyed, but, according to Dr. Mat Pound, our drastically reduced tick population is not likely to significantly rebound this year. 

 

Nevertheless, the adult ticks that had a blood meal and mated, will drop off the deer and lay clusters of 3000-4000 eggs that will hatch into those itchy larvae beginning in August; and the nymphs that obtained a blood meal will molt into adults that will be active, weather permitting, this winter and next spring.

 

In regard to the Cornell Study, it should be completed very soon, whereupon the NYSDEC will make a decision about the legality of  4-poster use in NYS.  To quote Vincent, our emails to FINS in support of the extension of the Study were “very compelling”.  So much so that he shared a number of them with his colleagues to demonstrate our unyielding determination to avail ourselves of this technology against tick-borne diseases.  Upon a positive NYSDEC decision, we on Fire Island will once again have to deal with FINS.  In this regard, the Fire Island Wildlife Foundation is planning a meeting this summer of all who support and have been involved in testing the  4-poster.  

 

The Foundation began this project in 2004 and during all the years since then, we have struggled to get FINS’ cooperation.  In their defense, FINS superintendents must abide by federal pesticide regulations.  On the other hand, they are also obligated to safeguard the health and well-being of visitors and residents living on Fire Island .  The environmentally benign 4-poster has been effective beyond our wildest expectations and deserves serious consideration as a tick management tool for use in federal parks.

 

Larry Slack was kind enough to come in this Sat afternoon with RMSP vehicle and a young assistant, Tom to install the community devices.  Attached are some photos taken at Jeff Christiensen’s site on Elm, FH.  The deer that appeared in the surrounding brush had no ticks visible on their ears.  They waited expectantly for Larry to finish and started using the 4-poster before we pulled away.    

 

Mario Posillico, VOS, and the Foundation have again negotiated with Ken Andexser, PestPro, to monitor the 4-poster sites for rodents.  For a period of a month, this will include the former Keogh Wk. site even though there are no plans to install a device there.   And lastly, Bradlee White and I will work up the budget for this short season. 

Marija        

 

 

From Gene Levy:

 

The only program which has been effective in controlling Lyme disease is the "4 Poster" Tick management program.  In order to continue the program we need the Fire island National Seashore (FINS) to issue a permit to continue the program for another year.  So far this permit has not been forthcoming.  Time is of the essence as Spring is here. 

I urge everyone on the FHCA email list to send an email to Chris Soller Superendent of FINS urging him to support the program. 

A sample email is shown below.

Gene Levy


TO:           chris_soller@nps.gov

CC:           Palmer@gw.dec.state.ny.us, marijabeqaj@aol.com

Subject: 4 Poster Tick Management Control Program


Superintendent Chris Soller,

 

The Fair Harbor community is very supportive of the  Tick Management Technology Study.  As a community we have tried a number of other approaches to controlling the ticks and the resulting Lyme disease.  Only the 4 Poster Program has proven effective.

 

Fins needs to support our initiative in protecting both our environment and the people of our communities by granting the needed permit so we may continue the program.  As you know, there is no cost to FINS for this program as the community members of Fire Island and Robert Moses have donated over $100,000 dollars to Cornel University to support this effective way to prevent Lyme disease for our residents, families and guests.

Your leadership in supporting our effort is appreciated.

Yours;