The District can identify resident-submitted ticks but DOES
NOT perform disease testing on resident-submitted ticks.
Tick testing is performed by the San Mateo
County Public Health Laboratory.
The District laboratory conducts surveillance for tick-borne
pathogens at parks and open spaces throughout San Mateo County.
These results are available on the
Tick Surveillance page.
Because ticks are most commonly found along trails in our parks
and open spaces, it’s more feasible to avoid contact with ticks and prevent
tick bites when spending time in these areas than to
control tick populations. However, some residents may choose to
have a private pest control operator treat their property for
ticks.
It is not usually feasible to control ticks themselves,
especially since they are most common in our parks and open
spaces. Instead, you can reduce your risk of tick-borne illness
by avoiding tick bites, and removing ticks properly if you are
bitten.
