Plant Harboring Deer Ticks With Lyme Disease Is Growing In Pennsylvania

A plant capable of hosting deer ticks with Lyme Disease is growing in Pennsylvania.

Heather Andrews, known as 'The Thoughtful Gardener' in Mechanicsburg, told Local 21 News the Japanese barberry, an ornamental plant, provides an even greater threat to the Keystone State, which already ranks among the worst in the country for Lyme Disease cases.

"In Michaux State Forest, they recently removed eight acres of this plant. It's highly invasive and it crowds out our native plants," Andrews said via Local 12 News. "The challenge of importing these exotic plants is because we don't know what they'll do, they can have a really terrible effect on the environment. Because deer and other wildlife don't eat them, they can absolutely harbor ticks."

The Japanese barberry is described as a tough plant that is unable to be pulled from the ground. It needs to be cut and then it can be ripped out, but must be grabbed from its roots.

Residents that find the plant growing nearby would need to get rid of it using a cutter or clippers and other tools in order to avoid toxic chemicals.

"It puts out a chemical that tells the native plants to stop growing." Andrews said.

The next step would be to use a shovel and dig the roots out, which sometimes requires a deep dig, especially when near a tree.

Residents are advised to remove as much of the bush from their property as possible, but with the proper caution, in order to help decrease the deer tick population.