UACES Facebook Arkansas Tick Collection Study | Citizen science project to collect ticks in Arkansas
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Arkansas Tickborne Disease Project

Every year, hundreds of Arkansans fall victim to tick-borne illnesses. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is conducting a statewide study to find out two things:

  1. What species of ticks live in Arkansas and where,
  2. What diseases they carry and where these diseases are found in Arkansas.

Quick facts:

  • Ticks can be collected from harvested deer, pets, or by trapping. (Ask your county agent how.)
  • This study is not intended to diagnose individual cases of tick-borne disease. Consult your physician.
  • Check out the online map to see data collection to date

The study, now in its second year, is supported by a grant from the Arkansas Biosciences Institute. Full results will be reported following a third year of collections.

For more information, contact your county extension office, or email Dr. Kelly Loftin, at kloftin@uada.edu.

tick on skin

How YOU can get involved

This project will not succeed without your help. We are asking for "citizen scientists" to help us gather the needed specimens to get a full picture of what types of ticks are causing diseases in our state. If you are collecting ticks keep these tips in mind:

  • Capture the ticks ALIVE and intact
  • Specimens must have their mouths intact
  • Record the location! Use GPS coordinates or name of the park, address, etc.
  • Collectors will remain anonymous
Explore full project details
vials with colored lids on top of a page with a data table

The Tick Kit

The kit comes with five vials filled with preservatives and a card for recording locations of collection. We included a self-addressed envelope to return the kits to our lab.

Learn what is in the tick kit
partial arkansas map with hot springs and a map icon to show that ticks were found there

Mapping the Results

Results of tick kits received by the research team will be displayed on a real-time interactive map. Click map pins to see details about the collection samples.

See updated tick study map

 

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