BANGOR DAILY NEWS • June 4, 2024
The CDC says it. Cooperative Extensions all over say it. The neighbor says it when you don’t mow. Long grass equals ticks. However, the research that has been done in recent years on the effect of decreased lawn mowing on tick prevalence is clear to me — there is no relationship between grass length and tick presence. So, can we call this myth done and stop crying “tick” every time people choose to let their lawns grow? It would be worthwhile to do so since there is plenty of evidence showing the benefits of less intensive mowing for biodiversity, air pollution, and more. ~ Rachel Smith, Orono