Deer control can halt Lyme spread

Lyme disease is being kept at bay on Scottish grouse moors due to strict deer controls, according to the Moorland Association

Grouse moor management is helping to prevent the spread of Lyme disease in scotland, says the Moorland Association, following new research undertaken by the university of Glasgow.

Previous arguments suggested that conservation activities such as woodland planting increased the risk of the disease, but this new study found that it is actually the rise in deer numbers caused by larger areas of forestry that leads to the increase.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread to humans and animals by infected ticks. Nhs figures say that between 2,000 to 3,000 new cases are reported each year, though some charities suggest the number could be as high as 45,000.

the Moorland Association says that the study shows one of the many benefits of grouse moor management. It highlighted how deer populations on scottish grouse moors are carefully controlled, which helps to limit incidences of Lyme disease being passed on to humans.

the organisation explained: “While deer are not as relevant to english moorland, the environment created by bracken beds has been shown to favour ticks, with up to 70 per cent of all activity in heath and dry moorland areas associated with bracken-dominated habitats.

“Grouse moor management helps to reduce the spread of this invasive and potentially damaging species. Moorland Association members have treated more than 65 square miles of invasive bracken to stop it swamping and killing other moorland plants.”

Grouse moor managers employ other methods of controlling tick numbers, including “tick mops” — treating sheep with a solution that kills the ticks or prevents them from feeding. the Moorland Association explained: “this in turn helps reduce the spread of tick-borne diseases in both grouse and wader species and helps protect visitors and their dogs.”

see our 12 July issue for an in-depth article on Lyme disease by the heather trust’s Patrick Laurie.

45,000 possible new cases of Lyme disease reported each year

rising deer numbers have been blamed for an increase in reported cases of lyme disease in people