Help Allison, a senior biology research student at Middlebury College, study the ecology and immunology of host infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Allison is looking to sample small mammals in Addison County to investigate mammalian antibody repertoires against variant strains of B. burgdorferi. Report roadkill and dead mammal sightings here to contribute to the science!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Why roadkill?
A. Roadkill, while sad, is abundant anywhere roads and wildlife meet. These organisms can offer valuable insights into local ecology and evolution. Compared to many traditional wildlife sampling methods, roadkill surveys impact study populations less. This method is thrifty and doesn't cause harm to the specimens being studied.

Q: What will you do with the roadkill?
A: First, I'll inspect the animal for ticks. If found, I''ll remove the ticks, place them in preservative, and store them for future research. Then, I'll take a small serum sample from the animal to test for the presence of antibodies. Then, the animals will be properly disposed of according to local and college safety guidelines.

Q: Does it need to be on a road?
A: Animals found on or near roads are ideal, because most are generally healthy at the time of death. The scope of this study is limited to mammals, so no turtles or birds can be included in the sampling. Additionally, we can't accommodate anything larger than a fox (Vulpes vulpes), so deer won't be included in the study.

Q: What's in it for me?
A: If you leave a name, I'll thank all of my contributors in the acknowledgements section of the final paper! :)