How woodchips can help keep ticks off trails
Researchers at the University of Ottawa have found that using woodchips on walking trails can effectively reduce the presence of blacklegged ticks. This provides a practical, non-chemical solution for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to mitigate the risk of Lyme disease.
Why it matters
As climate change expands the range of tick-borne illnesses, simple infrastructure interventions offer a scalable public health benefit.
A field research team member holds a test tube containing blacklegged ticks. (Roman McKay/University of Ottawa) , CC BY How woodchips can help keep ticks off trails Published: June 14, 2026 11:09am EDT https://theconversation.com/how-woodchips-can-help-keep-ticks-off-trails-283851 https://theconversation.com/how-woodchips-can-help-keep-ticks-off-trails-283851 Link copied Share article Share article
The article reports on scientific research findings in a neutral, informative manner.
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