** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE LONE STAR TICK (AMBLYOMMA AMERICANUM) IS A BLOOD FEEDING ARTHROPOD THAT CAUSES SEVERE HEALTH IMPACTS FOR BOTH CATTLE AND HUMANS. THIS PARASITE PRESENTS A UNIQUE THREAT TO RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT RELY ON CATTLE PRODUCTION BECAUSE ITTRANSMITS PATHOGENS TO BOTH HUMANS AND CATTLE,NEGATIVELY IMPACTS ANIMAL PRODUCTION THROUGH HEAVY INFESTATIONS, ANDTRIGGERS AN ALLERGY TO MAMMALIAN MEAT AND OTHER PRODUCTS (ALPHA-GAL SYNDROME). ALPHA-GAL SYNDROME IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNING AS INCIDENCE OF THE ALLERGY HAVE RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT YEARS. PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM THIS ALLERGY ARE UNABLE TO CONSUME BEEF, PORK, LAMB, OR DAIRY PRODUCTS. AS INCIDENCE OF THE DISEASE INCREASES, AN EVER-GROWING CONSUMER BASE FOR THESE PRODUCTS ARE LOST. AVOIDING A. AMERICANUMCONTACT AND DEVELOPING TICK CONTROL STRATEGIES REQUIRES ACCURATE ESTIMATES OF TICK ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTIONS. HOWEVER, CONVENTIONAL METHODS FOR TICK SURVEILLANCE (E.G., TICK DRAGS) DO NOT WORK FOR A. AMERICANUM BECAUSE THE TICK IS HIGHLY MOBILE AND WILL ACTIVELY MOVE IN THE LANDSCAPE. IT IS POORLY UNDERSTOOD HOW FAR OR FREQUENTLY A. AMERICANUM MOVE. THESE KNOWLEDGE GAPS MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY ESTIMATE OR PREDICT A. AMERICANUM DISTRIBUTIONS AND THE RISK OF TICK-HOSTCONTACT. THIS PROJECT WILL IMPROVE RISK ASSESSMENT FOR TICK-HOST CONTACT BY INTEGRATING A. AMERICANUMBEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY WITH FIELD SURVEILLANCE. A SPATIAL RISK MODEL FOR A. AMERICANUMWILL BE BUILT AND OPTIMIZED USING CAPTURE-MARK-RECAPTURE MEASURES OF TICKSIN DIFFERENT HABITATS (OAK FORESTS, PASTURES, AND OAK FOREST-PASTURE ECOTONES) THAT WILLALLOWPEOPLE IN RURAL, AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT MANAGEMENT OF LIVESTOCK HERDS, SELECTIVE USE OF ACARICIDES FOR TICK CONTROL, AND ADOPTION OF PROTECTIVE TICK REPELLENTS.