Sabrina Elizabeth Mruczek
Project
Variation in Lyme disease Risk along Urban to Rural Gradients in QuebecWhat do hikers, deer, mice, and ticks have in common? They're all part of a growing ecological puzzle at the heart of Lyme disease risk! Lyme disease, transmitted by black-legged ticks, is spreading in Quebec but remains understudied near hiking trails, key zones of human-wildlife interaction. Our research examines how animal foraging behaviors, particularly of white-tailed deer and white-footed mice, influence tick populations along urban-to-rural gradients. At the same time, we’re exploring how hiker behavior, like trail use and risk perception, may also feed back into the system, potentially shaping tick distribution and Lyme disease risk. This dual ecological and human-focused approach helps clarify how both wildlife and recreation influence disease dynamics in changing environments. When it comes to ticks, trails and tails...everything is connected!
