CANANDAIGUA, NY — Citing the rising number of cases of Lyme disease from ticks carried by deer and prevalence of deer and motor vehicle collisions throughout Ontario County, Canandaigua City Councilmember Doug Merrill and others are hoping to address what he said is not only a serious health issue, but also a property damage concern.
What to do about deer?
That is the point of a local study effort, with the ultimate goal of keeping people safe, Merrill said.
“We want them safe in our cars,” Merrill said. “We want them safe in our gardens, and we want them safe in our parks.”
A presentation on numbers and strategies is expected to be discussed at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Council’s environmental committee meeting.
Merrill said a beginning phase of this effort includes education and building awareness of the potential health concerns caused by deer-borne ticks. Down the road, discussions and implementation of some sort of countywide effort to address the deer population may be necessary.
“What we want to do is move quickly on the education piece,” Merrill said.
Here’s what Merrill and others believe residents should know now.
What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in New York, and the numbers go up every year, according to Ontario County Public Health Director Kate Ott.
“Ticks and tick-borne diseases are significant problems for Ontario County and Finger Lakes residents,” Ott said.
According to information from the state Department of Health, blacklegged ticks, which are commonly known as deer ticks, live in shady, moist areas at ground level. They feed on the blood of animals, such as deer. They will cling to tall grass, brush and shrubs, usually no more than 18 to 24 inches off the ground. They also live in lawns and gardens, especially at the edges of woods and around old stone walls.
Once a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbs upward until it reaches a protected area such as behind an ear, in an armpit, or in the hair.
Symptoms of Lyme disease
Symptoms of Lyme disease include a bull’s-eye shaped rash although the rash can take other forms. It’s not always present, Ott said.
Fever, headache, fatigue, chills, and aches and pains are other symptoms. Sound familiar? “Feeling fluish in the summer should not be ignored,” said Ott, adding that later symptoms include joint pain, Bell’s palsy and heart block.
“Because rates of Lyme have become so high, doctors are sometimes willing to give a dose of antibiotics when an individual reports an attached tick vs. awaiting testing,” Ott said.
Why the concern about Lyme disease locally?
The number of reported cases of Lyme disease has increased dramatically in Ontario County, from 33 cases in 2021 to 282 cases in 2023, according to information from Ontario County Public Health. So far this year, 294 cases have been reported.
Merrill provided case records in 2024 that show 54% of all cases came in three municipalities: Victor, 74 cases; Canandaigua, 54 cases; and Naples, 42 cases.
“Chances are very, very good that if bitten by a tick in Ontario County, that tick is infected,” Merrill said.
Many people in the over-60 age group are especially susceptible to Lyme disease.
Ott suggests that may be because older people tend to have more leisure time to spend outside doing yard work, gardening, hiking, and the like. They may be more apt to own a home and have a yard to maintain.
Visual acuity is worse than younger counterparts; deer ticks are tiny when young and very hard to see, Ott said.
They may not have a partner to help check for ticks.
“Parents check their kids; who checks gramma and grandpa?” Ott said.
“This disease has long-term consequences,” Merrill said. “You never feel good again.”
Other concerns with deer-borne ticks
Ticks transmit other serious diseases, such as babesiosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, hard tick relapsing fever and Powassan encephalitis, according to the state Department of Health.
Ott said another concerning trend is an increase in cases of anaplasmosis, which is less common but can be life threatening for older adults and immune-compromised individuals. Cases have increased from 3 in 2021 to 5 in 2023 to 15 in 2024. So far this year, 15 cases have been reported.
This is also carried by deer ticks.
Anaplasmosis is more prevalent in older adults or immune-suppressed individuals. Initial symptoms are similar to Lyme, though usually with no rash. Later symptoms can include confusion, seizures, respiratory problems, and organ failure, Ott said.
Unlike Lyme, there is no telltale rash, making it harder to diagnose early.
It, too, presents like the common flu, Merrill said.
How to guard against ticks
The state Department of Health offers a variety of tips.
In tick-infested areas, the best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation. For those who garden, hike, camp, hunt, work or otherwise spend time outside, there are ways of protection.
They include: Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily. Wear enclosed shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants. Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors.
Consider using insect repellent with DEET.
Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas. Avoid sitting directly on the ground, on fallen logs or on stone walls.
Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening. Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly.
Other deer-related issues to consider
Many deer crashes involve damage of varying degrees to vehicles, but in some cases, fatalities.
Deer also can wreak havoc for farmers, and they have detrimental impacts on forests, native bird species and residential landscapes and gardens, Merrill said.
They also spread the seeds of invasive plants.
The second phase is more of a countywide endeavor, with data on crashes, illnesses and other factors informing “how we move forward,” Merrill said.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rising Lyme disease cases and car crashes prompt concerns about deer in Ontario County
Reporting by Mike Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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