DeSena, Scott and Walsh Release Over 100 Quail - to Eat Ticks

By Thomas Nothel

Over 100 quails were released into the wild by North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Council members Dennis Walsh and Ed Scott last week in Port Washington, as part of an environmental campaign to combat ticks naturally.

With the explosion of the deer population, ticks have become carriers of dangerous chronic diseases like Lyme Disease and Powassan.

"Each Quail eats between 5,00 to 10,000 ticks over their lifetime,'" stated Councilman Ed Scott. "This release today could result in over one million fewer ticks in our local woods."

The Town Board members were joined Sally Wellinger, Executive Director of Center for Environmental Education & Discovery (CEED).

This was North Hempstead’s Tenth Annual Quail Release, with over 100 Northern Bobwhite quail released adjacent to the Hempstead Harbor Nature Trail in Port Washington, to help combat ticks.

Fifty of the quail were raised at Clark Botanic Gardens this year - the Town's 21-acre living museum and educational garden in Albertson.

North Hempstead has been raising Northern Bobwhite Quail to help control tick populations - without the use of pesticides - for nearly a decade.

The Town holds the distinction of being the first municipality on Long Island to deploy quail to help control ticks. The release is part of the Town’s broader environmental initiative to use natural methods to combat invasive species and disease-carrying pests. Since the program began, approximately 300 quail have been raised and released.

Northern Bobwhite quail forage on insects - including ticks - as part of their regular diet. 

“Our quail may be small, but they do some big work when it comes to fighting ticks," stated Supervisor DeSena. "I am proud to be using a natural solution that protects our residents and supports environmental sustainability."

Under Jen DeSena's leadership, the Town has expanded sustainability efforts through initiatives including the Native Plant Residential Rebate Program, Native Tree Giveaway, Rain Barrel and Composter Sales, participation in the Mayors' Monarch Pledge, and the Nitrogen Smart Communities Program.