It is carried by deer ticks. The white tail deer population is out of control in New England. Too many deer living right around houses. I know several people who have contracted Lyme(named after Lyme, CT) disease in the last ten years. Twenty years ago, I had never heard of it.
The problem is that the deer have learned they can live in the suburbs where you can not hunt because there is no way you can fire a shotgun or much less a rifle. You are not allowed to discharge a firearm within 300-500 feet of someone else’s residence here in NH.
The deer have also learned to hide during hunting season. I currently have two herds that travel through my 12 acre property in southern NH. I am on the edge of suburbia 15 miles from the Mass border. I typically see 9-20 deer a day. Twenty was the most we counted during early March when there was 3’ of snowpack and they were really yarding up.
During hunting season they disappear. They feed a night and lay down during the day. They will not move unless they are pushed.
This increase in the deer population has led to more ticks living on the deer and then jumping onto you, your dog or cat. Almost all canines have lyme disease around here, especially if they are older.
Yes I know, I buy stuff to spray that kills ticks becuase I’m constantly pulling them of the dog and often I find them on my clothes or my skin. I’ve learned to check, it can be nasty - which is why I spray.
Found some good stuff online that works and isn’t harmful, but nothing beats DDT for killing those rascals.