In a recent publication, USDA Forest Service researchers Susannah Lerman and Vince D’Amico report on their quest to get to the bottom of a common assumption that ticks like long grass. They tested the hypothesis that lawn mowing frequency influences tick occurrence in 16 suburban yards in Springfield, MA. by conducted tick drags in lawns of various lawn mowing frequencies . They did not collect any ticks of any species. Promoting frequent mowing (i.e., shorter lawns) and the removal of grass clippings could have minimal impacts on tick microhabitats, but is consequential for beneficial wildlife and other ecosystem services associated with urban biodiversity.”
Science Daily Article: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190403155411.htm
PLOS One Article: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0214615
