Tick-Borne Disease in Wildlife and Welfare

Tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis affect millions of wild animals annually, causing significant chronic welfare harm across multiple species.

Key Facts

Ixodes ricinus tick is the primary vector for Lyme disease across Europe and the UK
Deer are key reservoir hosts for ticks but do not develop Lyme disease themselves
Small mammals including mice and voles serve as disease reservoirs for Borrelia bacteria
Climate change is expanding tick range northward and extending the active season
Seabird colonies in Shetland and Orkney have experienced tick-related chick mortality

Welfare Considerations

Tick-borne disease welfare is complex: heavily tick-infested birds and mammals show anaemia, immune suppression, and in severe cases neurological damage. Seabird chicks are particularly vulnerable — tick larvae can drain enough blood volume to kill small nestlings. The welfare harm operates quietly across vast landscapes, affecting individuals that live and die largely unobserved. Tick load reflects habitat quality and deer management, creating opportunities for indirect welfare improvement through landscape management.

What You Can Do

Support tick surveillance programmes monitoring wildlife health
Check yourself and pets for ticks after woodland and grassland walks
Advocate for deer management practices that reduce tick habitat near communities
Support seabird colony monitoring that tracks tick infestation as a welfare indicator
Learn about tick ecology to engage in habitat management discussions