by Patricia Norton, Dept. of Pathobiology and Integrative Biomedical Sciences

Dear Audubon members,

 

We have finished testing for bacteria in the 2024 ticks. Tests for Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii), rabbit fever (Tularemia francisella), and Ehrlichiosis (Erhlichia species) were all negative.

Here are the results of our field testing at Audubon Sanctuary for 2025. We collected ticks once per month for 3 months. All ticks have been sent for pathogen testing.

 

The results for the Audubon Sanctuary tick research of 2025 (May-July) are tabulated

2025	Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum)				American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
Location	Adult M	Adult F	Nymph	Larvae	Adult M	Adult F	Nymph		Larvae
Audubon Sanctuary	36	62	263	11	2	3		0	0

 

Compared to last year, the density of adult and nymphal ticks per 100 meters² was lower this year, 12.2 ticks per 100 meters² (2025) versus

27.7 ticks per 100 meters² (2024). For the number of ticks among the three sites in Boone County that we sampled, Audubon dropped from

first place, last year, to second place this year. Bacteria testing is pending.

 

Thank you, once again, for allowing our research to include the Audubon Sanctuary.

 

Sincerely,

Patricia Norton

 

Project Support Coordinator

Dept. of Pathobiology and Integrative Biomedical Sciences

210 Connaway Hall

College of Veterinary Medicine

University of Missouri

Columbia, MO 65211

573-884-5217