Invasive plants may be helping ticks spread across Maine

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • January 13, 2025

It’s possible that disease-carrying tick populations are spreading quickly across Maine with the help of invasive plants. A new five-year research project aims to find out if removing those plants reduces tick population, and if so, what landowners can do. The University of Maine announced the $1.8 million grant-funded project Monday. Ticks and the diseases they carry, including Lyme, anaplasmosis and babesiosis, are becoming an increasing problem for Mainers and the state’s wildlife.