It’s near the peak of blacklegged tick season this fall.
And for years, research has shown that ticks are more abundant on certain understory plants like Japanese barberry, bush honeysuckles and common buckthorn — all invasive species.
Now, scientists in Vermont and Maine are testing how managing these plants might decrease tick numbers — and the risk of people developing tick-borne illness. They’re hoping to come up with best practices for landowners after getting a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation…