D3198: Considerations for using 4-poster deer treatment devices to manage Ixodes scapularis in Lyme disease-endemic communities

4-Poster deer treatment devices (4-posters) can suppress Ixodes scapularis, the primary vector of the Lyme disease bacterium in the eastern United States. The feasibility and acceptability of using 4-posters for disease prevention within mainland, residential communities have not been well-documented. To understand the viability of 4-poster deployment in a Lyme-endemic suburban setting, we assessed the feasibility of residential site selection for large-scale device placement in New York and Connecticut, documented operational logistics of 4-poster deployment on a suburban golf course, measured the acceptability of 4-poster usage among pesticide control operators, and determined the acceptability of device use by residents. Due to landscape characteristics and regulatory restrictions, we found few residential areas suitable for large-scale device placement, suggesting that 4-posters may be better suited for large private or public lands. We documented a high cost of 4-poster operation ($1279 monthly per device), heavy device use by non-target animals, and human interest in devices, suggesting the need for 4-poster monitoring and safety fencing. Seventy percent of pest control operators were either willing to offer or were not sure about offering 4-posters as tick management products. Lastly, >70% of Connecticut and New York residents would support placement of 4-posters on private or public land in their communities. Overall, 4-posters may be best suited for use in parklands or large private parcels. Our findings may inform future 4-poster implementation by vector control programs in the Northeast.