During the Wildlife Beats workshop at the Book Fair, we were discussing fires as a periodic event that impacts wildlife. One of the attendees brought up the fact that traditionally portions of fields have been burned by livestock owners in order to control tick populations. I’m not sure how often that happens today, but apparently ticks are currently a serious problem for local livestock.
The tropical Bont tick is a particular problem for cattle. Originally from Africa, it apparently arrived to the Caribbean on cattle imported from Senegal to Guadeloupe in 1828. The ticks are vectors for multiple diseases, and cause bacterial skin infections that can be seen regularly on local cattle. An eradication program has been successful in rendering some islands “provisionally free” of the tropical Bont tick, including Anguilla, but it is a difficult process. This link has more detailed information about the ticks and the work being done to control them: http://www.fao.org/ag/magazine/0205sp1.htm
