Tolland Ticks Beware: Students Are Out To Get You

TOLLAND, CT — Attention all ticks at the Becker Conservation area in Tolland.

Tolland students are coming after you.

The project was well underway this week at the conservation area, which encompasses a network of trails spanning 28.5 acres on the northerly boundary of River Park off of South River Road.

The property was purchased in 2010 from Lawrence Becker using both active and passive open space funds. More than 11 acres on the easterly side of the property along the Willimantic River was the focus of the project.

Tolland Middle School teacher Faye Sleeman spearheaded the efforts, which employs several aspects of tick management across the curriculum and both middle and high school students.

The Tolland Conservation Corps, a volunteer organization that is responsible for operations and maintenance of several open space properties, has also been in on the project.

"It's a great project, especially for this time of year," Sleeman said. "It gets the students out, but also teaches them to apply this project in several areas." She mentioned math, science and language arts specifically.

One of the first steps was to lay down some gravel at key points on the trail system, not only to improve footing and promote erosion control, but to dry out the area, making it less hospitable for ticks. Students Monday were busy loading up a wheelbarrow and placing the gravel.

Students were also attacking the spread of barberry plants that has plagued the area. Ryan McCann of the conservation corps said deer "won't touch" the stuff because of the prickly nature, therefore taking a large tick host out of the equation.

So the students have been busy pulling barberry bushes.

"We want to restore the natural balance," said McCann who termed the barberry bushes "invasive."

McCann and Sleeman both said promoting fern growth is key. Promoting plants that draw birds, which then eat ticks, is key, Sleeman said.

Students were also busy trying to collect ticks not only to document species, but to make them available for disease testing.