Scientists from the University of Rhode Island and the New England Center of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases (NEWVEC) are looking for homeowners to participate in the next phase of Project ITCH (Is Tick Control Helping?). From 2023–2025, researchers partnered with homeowners to determine whether residential tick control efforts were reducing tick populations in yards. This summer, we are inviting homeowners to become part of the research team through Project ITCH 3.0: DIY Tick Collecting.
During our first visit, we will teach you how to collect ticks, prevent tick bites, and identify ticks using the materials provided. We will also sample (and remove) ticks from your property to conduct an initial tick assessment. In the following weeks, you will collect ticks from your yard on your own using the same materials. Once sampling is complete, homeowners will coordinate a pickup with our team so that collected ticks can be identified and tested for germs.
The information collected will help researchers better understand how different yard management and tick control practices influence tick abundance and support the development of practical, science-based recommendations to help people protect themselves, their families, and their pets from ticks. Participation begins with a short online screening form, and eligible homeowners will be contacted by our research team to complete enrollment.
Requirements of the study:
- Property is 0.5 acres in size or greater, and has an appropriate amount of tick habitat to sample.
- Property has been treated for ticks this spring with pesticide spray (natural or synthetic), granules, tick tubes, or rodent-targeted tick control bait boxes OR has not been treated with any tick control for the past three years.
- Homeowner is willing to sample for ticks 2 times June-early July 2026 . Each sampling would likely take 15-20 minutes.
- You will not be charged for this service but you will not be compensated either.
If you or someone you know wants to find out if their tick control is helping, or if you just want to what ticks are in your yard, please click this link to sign up. Our team will conduct a preliminary screening using this form and then if selected we will contact you to finalize your enrollment.
This collaborative research project has been approved by the URI IRB (Approval date 05/05/2023), through a reliance agreement with The University of Massachusetts Institutional Review Board.