The state of Maine has come up with a novel way to address the spreading scourge of ticks into the state. It is well known that chickens love to eat ticks, so the state commissioner of agriculture is requesting that tens of thousands of chickens be released into public lands and in state parks to help control the tick population.

Winner! Winner, chicken dinner.
In the state of PA we used to stock Ring Neck Pheasants.
Is the commissioner of Ag going to pay to build chicken coops so they have a place to hole up in the winter?

Ticks aren't a problem in winter, I'd guess, and I'd also guess they will be chicken dinners before winter.

Foxes and coyotes and large dogs like chicken, so no worries about winter.

Beware the local chef serving Free Range, Lyme infested Wild Poultry Ragu. Wild chicken doesn't taste like chicken. Just ask the locals in Kauai.

The University of Maine has an excellent library. You wish that before public officials spend citizens' money, they might ask the library to find out whether this idea works.

It doesn't.

In Nantucket, we thought guinea fowl would eat the ticks.

Guinea fowl all gone, ticks just as thick as ever.

The ag commissioner, Aprile Foulz, came up with this idea!

Happy April Fools to you too

The armadillos eat them in Fl.

Sorry, Spiro, controlling ticks with free range fowl is real, not April Fool nonsense.

It is safer than pesticides but not effective long term, at least in our experience.

I've sometimes wondered if the increase in ticks is related to the extinction of the passenger pigeon, once our most abundant bird species, they would darken the skies when the great flocks migrated. Although their main diet was plant based, they also foraged for worms, insects, etc.

I would encourage anyone who walks in tick infested woods to wear light colored clothing. It makes it easier to see them before you get in the car. Also carry a lint roller to pick them off clothing. I do remember finding a tick on my pillowcase the day after a walk in the woods.

I think I might point all of us (I replied also) to the date!! LOL

High marks for cleverness!!

good one, zootsi!