There is currently only limited information about the distribution of ticks in alpine regions. It is still unclear up to whick elevation ticks occur and whether their distribution has changed over time. Since ticks can transmit diseases to humans as well as livestock and pets, it is important to better understand their distribution areas.
This survey is conducted by the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davos. Its aim is to document the occurrence of ticks at different elevations in the Canton of Graubünden, based on observations on humans, pets and livestock.
Your participation:
- Participation is voluntary. You can interrupt the survey at any time without providing a reason.
- Completing the survey takes approximately 8 - 10 minutes.
- Please only participate if you have lived in the Canton of Graubünden for at least 2 years and are 18 years or older.
- Your observations are valuable, regardless of whether you observe ticks frequently, rarely or not at all.
Data protection:
As part of this survey, location information (approximate place of residence) and observations of ticks will be collected. Location data are necessary for the scientific analysis, as elevation is the central parameter of the study. All data will be treated confidentially, stored on secure SLF servers, and used exclusively for scientific purposes. For publications, the data will be anonymized and analyzed only in aggregated form, so that no conclusion can be drawn about individual participants. The data will be retained for a minimum of five years.
If you would like to be informed about the results of the study, you may voluntarily provide your email address at the end of the survey. It will be stored separately from your survey responses.
Contact:
If you have any questions about the study or data protection, please contact: Valentina Nüesch (vnueesch@ethz.ch) or Anne Kempel (anne.kempel@slf.ch)
