As Americans gather outdoors to celebrate the 4th of July, ticks are also out — and in record numbers — particularly in certain places like the East End of Long Island. According to the Sag Harbor Express, New York State Department of Health officials recommend that individuals protect themselves by staying inside (the Health Department website does offer some more useful advice). Seriously, that’s just dumb, particularly when the state serves as a main roadblock to some real solutions. It’s high time that New York State officials got serious about controlling the state’s dangerous and growing tick population, which expands along with the population of its main host animal: white tail deer. Read the full article at OpenMarket.org.