On the social network “Instagram”, V. Montvydienė spoke about the tick problem and drew attention to the city’s indifference to the issue.
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She said that her dog caught a tick in Vilnius, even though it was walked not in a park or forest.
According to her, they simply walked from Čiurlionio Street, where, by the way, the grass was extremely high, reaching even their knees, to Lukiškės Square and back.
The woman wondered if enough attention was being paid in the city to the risk posed by ticks and its prevention.
“The topic of ticks doesn’t let me go, especially now that I have a pet. I read up, delved into it, and, oh my God… It feels like the city still can’t decide whether to be ‘pure natural’ or finally take action on ticks. It seems that even the decision on mowing the grass hasn’t been made yet – to mow or not to mow,” said V. Montvydienė.
She also noted that the city limits itself to merely informing residents about ticks, even though the problem is widespread and, in her opinion, requires real solutions, not just a reminder that ticks exist.
“Another thing the city does is inform residents that there are ticks. Thank you, we know. And, it seems, we already know more about them than we’d like. The information is roughly: ‘Ticks exist.’ Great. What’s next? In this situation, the saying ‘If you’re afraid of the wolf, don’t go into the forest’ no longer applies, because ticks have long been not only in forests. They are everywhere, we don’t go into the forest,” the famous woman continued.
It is true that vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis are not compensated by the state, so people have to take care of their own and their children’s protection against a serious, widespread health problem.
“Another thing – get vaccinated. Yes, that’s an option. Vaccinate yourselves, your children with your own money – there’s no budget for that. Although this is already a large-scale statistical problem. Tick vaccinations are not compensated, perhaps with the exception of people over 50. In short, our ticks – our problems, is that it? Solve it however you want,” she did not hide her indignation.
Speaking about recommendations on how to properly protect pets from ticks, Veronika stated that medications can harm animals, and they supposedly need to be used constantly.
“For animals, we give medicines that have very strong side effects, after constant use of which, animal livers go *to pieces*, so that’s also our problem. In short, we fight ticks with our health and our wallets. My question is – what about you? Nothing? Then maybe put up signs for yourselves that there are ticks, there are many of them, and people die from them,” she said.
The woman did not hide her disappointment that in summer, ticks must be guarded against not only in forests but also in the city itself: “This is my emotion, some kind of hopeless situation, and now one has to be afraid to simply walk on sidewalks, because I’m not even talking about nature, forests.”
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Veronika also added to Žmonės.lt that the state and the city do not contribute enough to solving the threat posed by ticks: “Why are paid and uncompensated vaccinations the only measure, because it turns out that we ourselves have to protect ourselves at the expense of our health and wallet, and the ‘city’ simply ‘throws up its hands’ and cannot help with anything specific… Although according to all statistics and consequences, the problem is very big.”
She also published information about the Vilnius city’s approach to the tick problem.
Vilnius city’s approach today. Although in 2024–2025 Vilnius published almost no new separate articles on tick control, the city’s position essentially remained the same: priority – prevention and information; city parks and public areas are mowed selectively; mass chemical spraying is abandoned; vaccinations and personal protection are emphasized; part of the city relies on a “sustainable mowing” policy.
Comment from Vilnius City Municipality
Regarding this situation, the news portal Žmonės.lt contacted the Vilnius City Municipality.
Irmantas Kuzas, a public information specialist from the Communication Department, replied that uneven grass mowing is a conscious “sustainable mowing” policy, they do not use special measures to destroy ticks, and they suggest residents protect themselves.
“Grass in the city is mowed maintaining different heights, depending on the specific purpose and intensity of use of the territory:
- in the Old Town area, grass is mowed when it reaches about 7 cm in height;
- in intensively used urban spaces (places where residents move intensively: near pedestrian paths, in squares, plazas, courtyards of apartment buildings, children’s playgrounds and sports fields, etc.) a low lawn is maintained – 7–12 cm high;
- in other city territories, meadows are formed – grass is mowed less frequently there, 1–3 times per season, taking into account the purpose of the location, biodiversity goals, weather conditions, and the need for invasive plant control. Some territories are left for natural regrowth.
Therefore, residents may see uneven grass height in different parts of the city – this is not a sign of neglect, but part of a consciously applied sustainable mowing policy. Such a mowing model helps reduce urban overheating, better absorb rainwater, reduce dust, and strengthen biodiversity.
All mowing regimes and territories applied in the city are published on the public mowing map, where one can see where short lawns are maintained, where meadows are formed, or where natural regrowth is applied.
No special exclusive measures are applied in the city to combat ticks. Spraying is not used in the city territory, as chemical agents can have a negative impact on the environment, insects, and other animals, and can also enter the soil or water bodies. In urban areas where higher grass or meadows are maintained, a swath of about 1-1.5 m wide is mowed along pedestrian passages.
Pet owners are recommended to use tick protection measures during the warm season and to check their pets after walks, especially after visiting areas with higher grass.
Currently, due to favorable weather conditions, grass in the city is growing very intensively, so we have additionally strengthened the control of contractors’ work and constantly monitor territory maintenance,” I. Kuzas told Žmonės.lt.
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