Tick Biologist Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife Mosquito Control Wilmington, Delaware
In May 2022, Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Mosquito Control Section launched a multi-pronged campaign to educate the public about ticks. The campaign consisted of billboards, radio ads, online ads, bus and bus shelter ads, newspaper ads, social media posts, and a press event to reach a wide audience and maximize impact, timed to coincide with peak "tick season." Messaging emphasized the risks associated with different tick species found in Delaware and tips to prevent tick bites, and the public was encouraged to use a newly launched community science tool to crowd-source information about tick encounters in Delaware. This talk will provide an overview of lessons learned from this outreach initiative.
