Our natural places help refresh our spirits, clear our minds, and promote healthful living. But as we commune with the spaces we love, awareness and prevention of lyme disease and other illnesses associated with ticks are critical for sustainable enjoyment.
As we enter peak time for tick activity, here is a useful link from the CDC on prevention and treatment,as well as a related blog from Scientific American on the connection between lyme disease and invasive plants.
On the management level, maintaining a native forest floor through removal of invasive species and deer management are effective strategies.
Accordingly, we offer many opportunities for you to help us protect our native forests. The below picture is an example of the products of these efforts; native ferns covering the forest floor of Little Paint Branch Park, in Beltsville, MD .
The Natural Places Committee provides a rewarding opportunity to explore and enjoy Maryland, and protect it for future generations. Email natural.places@mdsierra.org to learn more or get involved.
Link tick prevention:
Link to Scientific American blog:
Link to MD Sierra, Stewardship
http://www.sierraclub.org/maryland/environmental-stewardship
Lyme disease maps obtained from; CDC website, Montgomery Mosquito Squad Website. Photo by Nick Yoder.