The Guilford County Division of Public Health invites citizens to join as community scientists for a study documenting tick species encountered in North Carolina.
Conducted by North Carolina State University, the study requests participants to submit ticks they come into contact with naturally in North Carolina. The Guilford County Division of Public Health is partnering with North Carolina State University to distribute free tick collection kits.
Participants must be 18 years or older and are required to collect ticks, complete a survey and send their findings via mail in a postage-paid return envelope.
The study will evaluate a citizen science approach to tick surveillance and exposure risk in North Carolina.
Study Details
- Participants will only submit ticks pulled off of themselves (not animals)
- Each tick kit should come from the same time and location; use different kits for other times and locations
- Participants will fill out a survey for each kit
- No personal information will be shared and participants will not be identified from their responses
- Kits will be sent back to researchers in a provided return envelope
- There is no pay for participation in the study
Free tick kits can be picked up from the Environmental Health Division on the 3rd floor of the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services at 1203 Maple Street in Greensboro. Each kit will include a postage-paid return envelope, collection tubes and a short survey for participants to complete.
Citizen participants may submit their findings as many times as they encounter ticks.
Please email ncstatevectorborne@ncsu.edu for more information. View common ticks of North Carolina in a guide from North Carolina State University.