Dr. Richard Ostfeld of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies spoke to Boris and Robyn on Thursday to talk about what we can expect from tick season in 2015 and what methods are actually effective in preventing ticks from making your yard their stomping grounds.

Ostfeld acknowledged that some experts are predicting a higher tick population because of the protection from extreme temperatures that snow is believed to give to the insects. However, Ostfeld says the previous summer's white-footed mice population is a better predictor of the next year's tick population, and on that mark, we should see a moderate year for ticks.

Ostfeld also said that many tips and tricks for ridding backyard of ticks haven't been scientifically tested.

"This is a frustrating area of research because there are many things that are shown not to help and a few things that are shown to help," Ostfeld said. "But it's an area that's lacking in research funding so we need to know a lot more."

One remedy he said has been tested and shown to work is a fungus known at Metarhizium anisopliae strain 52 and sold as Met52.

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