"Bull’s-eye" rash does not always appear.

Many cases are therefore misdiagnosed

and improperly treated.

Photos: Oklahoma State Dept Health

Facial paralysis resulting from

undiagnosed and untreated Lyme disease. Photo: Am. Lyme Disease Foundation

Lyme-related arthritis.

Photo: US CDC.

Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

Many victims suffer through confusing symptoms, debilitating effects, diagnoses that don’t seem quite right, and the anguish of not knowing why they’re so sick.

After a few years of strange knee soreness, unexplained heart palpitations, in August of 1993 I had a very bad sore throat, sore left jaw, facial pain, debilitating fatigue, night sweats, fever, swollen glands, vision problems, forgetfulness, cognitive difficulties, violent body twitches and profound dizziness. This lasted many months and progressed into a terrible depression and panic disorder that rendered me unable to work regularly. I felt physically sick, as if I was losing my mind. As a psychologist, I knew that there was no rational explanation for the psychoemotional problems, but thought that the physical difficulties might somehow be connected.

Dr. Christopher Montes, Farmington, CT

Deer infected by adult Ixodes scapularis. Each female tick can produce 3,000 eggs.

Photo: American Lyme Disease Foundation

Reducing deer results in reduced incidence of Lyme disease. (Mumford Cove, Kilpatrick and LaBonte 2003)

Tick larvae and nymphs found on rodents:

Source: Dr. Kirby Stafford, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

"By 2004, no immature I. scapularis could be found on rodents on Monhegan Island."

J. Piesman, CDC, May 2006

Tick life cycle

Chart: Univ Pennsylvania

Researcher collects (above) and counts tick population (below).

Photos: Yale University School of Public Health

"Epidemic Spread of Lyme Borreliosis"

CDC April 2006

While white-tailed deer are not themselves carriers of Lyme disease, the presence of these large herbivores does lead to a greater abundance of ticks in an area, and these in turn are responsible for transmitting Lyme and other diseases to humans.

The direct correlation between deer herd size and Lyme disease has been well documented. In Mumford Cove, a neighborhood in Groton, Connecticut, when the deer population was dramatically reduced, the number of reported cases of Lyme disease directly tracked this reduction and fell from a high of 30 cases to 5 reported cases in just three years (Kilpatrick and LaBonte, 2003). On Great Island in Massachusetts, prior to the removal of all deer, the annual incidence of Lyme was 3 cases per 100 people. After all the deer were removed, the incidence rate dropped to 0.2 cases (Wilson & Childs, 1997).

Though mice are usually the principal mammalian carrier of Lyme disease, a high deer population tends to support a higher tick population. Deer also help to distribute ticks over a wide area, and to sites where they are more likely to find human hosts.

Dr. Kirby Stafford, the vice director and chief entomologist at the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station, explained on June 8, 2006, "There is a direct correlation between the number of deer in an area and the amount of reported cases of Lyme disease."

He cited an example: Monhegan Island, a 586-acre island off the coast of Maine, had more than 100 deer per square mile and by 1996 13% of the residents had contracted Lyme disease. Because of this, the residents voted to completely rid the island of deer and from by August 1999, all the deer were removed.

"By the summer of 2003, no larvae or nymphs were recovered (on Monhegan Island) and very few adult ticks were recovered, and this continues. This shows how fundamental deer are to the abundance of ticks," Stafford said.

"Since the deer extirpation was completed, Maine medical researchers have monitored human health and tick incidence on Monhegan Island. After a lag of two to three years, the tick population has crashed and there have been no new human cases of Lyme disease on the island."

Distribution of new reported Lyme disease cases in US. CDC 2003

Nymphal tick, Ixodes scapularis.

Its bite can transmit Lyme disease.

Photo: US Food & Drug Administration

Ixodes scapularis; nymph, adult, larva

Photo: Univ SC School of Medicine

Ixodes scapularis mouth parts.

Photo: Tick Research Laboratory Univ RI

Tick on blade of grass.

Photo: LA County West Disease Control

Each female tick can lay 3,000 eggs.

Photo: CDC

• As of 2003, all physicians are required to report to the CDC confirmed cases of Lyme disease. Millburn’s cases during this time are 8 in 2003; 13 in 2004; 17 in 2005. This is a 30% increase over 2004. Source: CDC

• Reported cases of Lyme disease in NJ: 3,372 in 2005, 2,740 in 2004, a 23% increase. Source: Star Ledger, May 4, 2006

• Correct diagnosis is difficult. Congressional research indicates fewer than 10% of Lyme disease cases are reported to CDC.

• Median school absence in NJ of 103 days per student affected by Lyme disease. Source CDC

• Average 22 point IQ drop in students affected by Lyme disease (reversible by treatment). Source: Columbia University Medical Center

• Lyme disease costs $61,688.00 per year, per patient, in treatment and lost productivity. Source: Congressional investigation.

• Legislation related to Lyme disease has been initiated in both houses of Congress by delegates from CT, PA, NJ (Rep. Christopher Dodd) and NY to authorize an additional $20. million annually for the next five years to be spent for Lyme disease research, education and prevention: the Senate bill is S1479; House bill is HR3427.

• "About 70 percent of infected people are bitten in their own yards," says David Weld, executive director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation.

• Researchers at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark are determining the genetic structure of 17 strains of the bacteria. One New Jersey researcher, Dr. Steven Schutzer, said, "Knowing the genetic sequence will help in diagnostics, and possibly different kinds of therapeutics."

• "We strongly support efforts to significantly reduce the deer population, which in turn will help eliminate Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases."

David Weld, Director American Lyme Disease Foundation March, 2006

Photo: Fairfield County Municipal Deer Management Alliance

Union County, New Jersey

Watchung Reservation

93. 25

94. 4

95. 6

96. 11

97. 4

1997-98 3

Photo: Fairfield County Municipal Deer Management Alliance

River Hills, Wisconsin

"Before we started trapping in 1986-'87, we had 76 car kills. And if you've ever seen a car-deer crash, they're very destructive to both parties," Tollaksen said. "Last year we had eight."

Photo: Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Ned Brown Forest Preserve, Illinois

"Sharpshooters, rocket netting and drive netting were employed to increase vegetation and to reduce DVC."

"Collisions were reduced from 37 per year to 13."

Photo: www. daverichey.com

Recommendation of North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority 2005

1. Cost benefit studies indicate that 8 foot high exclusionary fencing should be installed on one side of the road if 8 carcasses per year; both sides if 16; both sides combined with wildlife crossing if 24 deer carcasses are recovered per year.

2. Clear underbrush from side of the road in high DVC areas.

3. Textured pavement (to slow traffic) is suitable for localized use in high animal crossing areas.

4. Encourage hunting or herd reduction.

5. Public education.

Photo: Strieter Lite Inc.

Strategies for Addressing Deer Vehicle Crashes, Wisconsin Dept Transportation 2004, regarding reflectors:

"extensive testing has shown these devices have no impact on the number of crashes."

36% (66/180) of all Millburn DVCs occurred in areas where Strieter Lite reflectors were present. 75% of all such DVCs (50/66) occurred with automobile headlights in use.

The majority of Millburn’s recorded DVCs (104 of 180) occur in the vicinity of JFK Parkway, adjacent to NJ American Water Preserve lands, and along South Mountain Reservation boundaries where no culling has been practiced.

Source Millburn Police Department

Clear-cut browse line is evidence of deer overpopulation.

Photo: Jim Nachel, 2003

"Deer can change the plant and tree community by over-browsing everything from the ground to about 4 feet up.

Not only is the shrub layer destroyed, but tree regeneration becomes impossible when the seedlings have been consumed.

Songbirds disappear and the forest is left susceptible to natural disasters, disease, and invasion by non-native plant species."

Native Plant Society of NJ, IMPACT OF DEER ON BIODIVERSITY, May 7, 2006

Hungry deer reaches for higher branches.

Photo: Fairfield County Municipal Deer Management Alliance

"These forest systems in the Highlands of North Jersey and some in Central Jersey are in a state of collapse. This is ecological Ground Zero."

"It is our obligation to do something about it, to deal with the deer. White-tailed deer are a threat to our conservation areas."

Star-Ledger, Monday, March 14, 2005

This is how a browse line is created.

Photo: Fairfield County Municipal Deer Management Alliance

"For New Jersey's forest ecosystems, the current deer population isn't just an inconvenience - it's a survival issue.

Too many deer eat young saplings, leaving our forests with only mature trees and invasive plants. There's no room left for the next generation of trees. "

Michele S. Byers, Executive Director

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

January 23, 2002

Healthy understory displays seedling trees and a variety of plant life that supports diverse animal populations.

"Healthy forests and ecosystems provide essential environmental, social and economic benefits to human health and quality of life. 

Healthy forests play a major role in providing clean, potable water for us all." 

NJ Audubon Society

Forest Health White Paper 2006

Photo: Montgomery County Parks, MD

Understory is absent in South Mountain Reservation forest.

Photo: NJ Audubon Society

"Early successional forest, evidenced by seedling and sapling stands, are lacking in a majority of areas of the Reservation.

In addition, within specific areas of the Reservation, the existing trees all appear to be of similar age.

This raises concern about forest regeneration."

South Mountain Reservation Assessment and Restoration Plan June 2006

Professional Planning and Engineering, LLC

Photo: New Brunswick Parks, Canada

"Results show clear evidence of avian species impacts and losses under increasing browsing pressure."

"Young fledglings lacking adequate areas close to the nest site face a greater predation risk as they move longer distances seeking cover and food."

"Young birds in a heavily browsed forest are doomed."

NJ Audubon Society

Forest Health White Paper 2006