To further the State’s interest in tick control for the prevention or reduction of tick-borne diseases, the Department may take all necessary and appropriate actions as follows:
(1) Enter upon public lands for the purposes of determining the nature and extent of tick-infested areas and the presence of tick-host animals or tick-inhabited vegetation, taking control actions as warranted, and providing relevant educational programs.
a. Control actions on public lands may include:
1. Selective acaricide use.
2. Use of biological controls, management of tick-host animal populations or tick-inhabited vegetation, or other appropriate methods.
b. When performing control actions on public lands, the Department shall:
1. Coordinate all tick-related survey or control work on public lands with the appropriate public lands owner or manager.
2. Perform all control actions in an environmentally responsible manner and, to the extent practicable, avoid adversely affecting flora and fauna.
3. Perform all control actions only after any required federal or state permits have been obtained.
4. Educate public lands owners or managers about:
A. Tick-prone habitats on their lands.
B. Tick control or habitat management practices that may assist in reducing tick populations on public lands.
(2) On written approval by private property owner or owners or their authorized representatives, the Department may enter upon private property for any of the following purposes:
a. Undertaking Department-conducted, tick-related scientific research or tick surveys.
b. Identifying tick-prone habitats.
c. Advising private property owners as to proper tick control or habitat management measures that may reduce tick populations on their lands.
(3) Develop and implement a statewide integrated pest management strategy for tick control on public lands.
(4) At the Secretary’s discretion, the Department may promulgate regulations to effectuate a strategy for tick control on public lands.
