06/01/2026
Below is an excerpt from the recent Smoky Hills Prescribed Burn Association newsletter concerning ticks...
Ticks:
There was a time when red cedar was all we were concerned about for prescribed burning. Then came the invasion of Old World Bluestem. And now, the mild winter created an infestation of ticks.
As tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease. Alpha-Gal, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever continue to rise, land managers and researchers are increasingly turning to an ancient ecological tool for modern public health: prescribed burning. While controlled fires are traditionally used to clear underbrush and revitalize soil, they are proving to be exceptionally effective at suppressing tick populations through both direct and indirect mechanisms.
The immediate benefit of a prescribed fire is direct mortality. Ticks have limited mobility and cannot outrun a moving fire line. High-intensity heat—specifically temperatures exceeding 200°C for even just a few seconds—easily obliterates ticks at all life stages, from microscopic larvae to adults.
However, the long-term, indirect benefits of controlled burns are what truly disrupt the tick life cycle. Ticks are highly sensitive to dehydration and require a humid, moisture-rich microclimate to survive. They typically find this refuge in dense prairie thatch litter and thick undergrowth. Prescribed burns consume this accumulated organic biomass, exposing the prairie floor to direct sunlight and increased wind speeds. This environmental shift raises temperatures and lowers humidity, rendering the habitat dangerously dry for surviving ticks and drastically reducing their ability to search for hosts, a behavior known as "questing."
Furthermore, regular fire maintenance reshapes the local wildlife dynamics. By thinning dense brush, prescribed fires eliminate the protective cover required by small rodents, such as mice, which serve as primary reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens. With less cover, rodent populations decline due to increased predator visibility, meaning fewer hosts are available to sustain the tick population.
Studies show that lone-treatment burns offer only temporary relief, as ticks can quickly re-enter an area via mobile hosts like deer. However, implementing a consistent, long-term rotational burning regime can reduce tick density by up to 60 to 90 percent compared to unburned areas, making prescribed fire an invaluable, eco-friendly weapon in integrated tick management.
Tick season is in full swing, y'all😲 While ticks can transmit diseases, if you're properly prepared, they don't have to stop you from enjoying the outdoors!
Here's some top tips for safely exploring:
1. Avoid tall grass, bushes, and wooded areas with lots of leaf litter. Stick to the center of trails.
2. Use insect repellent on your skin and/or permethrin on your clothing. If you're wearing sunscreen, apply that first, then insect repellent.
3. Wear long sleeves and pants that are tucked into high socks or boots.
Bonus tip- bring a lint roller or roll of duct tape along to easily remove ticks (especially "seed" ticks) from your clothing.
Check for ticks on your clothing and yourself when you're back indoors. They especially like hiding in warm crevices, around your waist, and around hair. If you find a tick, DON'T PANIC. Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove the tick as close to your skin as possible so you fully remove the head. Wrap it tightly in tape or submerge it in alcohol and keep it just in case you develop an illness. Learn more here: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/index.html
