Mice, Not Deer, Drive Lyme Spread | Topeka News

Lyme disease’s real culprit might not be deer after all—new 30-year forest research reveals white-footed mice are far more responsible for spreading ticks that infect humans, while skunks and squirrels feed ticks without passing on the bacteria. Surprisingly, acorn booms two years later fuel tick surges, and extreme weather doesn’t kill ticks—they just burrow in. Meanwhile, lone star ticks are expanding northward, carrying alpha-gal syndrome—a red meat allergy now tracked in 14 states as doctors are required to report cases, helping uncover a silent but growing public health threat. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7610f0d126f313e8