When you see a conspiracy theory like this – saying that Big Government is dropping ticks from the sky onto your lawn – it’s probably easy for you to brush it off. But these theories aren’t popular because of their logic!
The same things that make a silly conspiracy theory attractive appear in much more harmful theories as well. Understanding what to watch for can help protect you in the future.
Be honest – have you fallen for a conspiracy theory before? Let us know what helped you escape the rabbit hole! (Or in this case… the tick box?!)
Sources
- An online conspiracy theory suggested planes were dropping ticks over Ontario. Here is the real reason why there are more ticks this year. | CP24 by The Canadian Press | May 2026
- Have Missouri farmers reported finding ‘boxes of ticks’ in fields? | Snopes.com | May 2026
- Belief in conspiracy theories: Basic principles of an emerging research domain | European Journal of Social Psychology | August 2018
- Beliefs in conspiracy theories and the need for cognitive closure | Frontiers | June 2013
- Conspiracy Mentality: How it Relates to Populism, Relative Deprivation, Mistrust of Expertise and Voting Behaviour | Europe’s Journal of Psychology | February 2024
- Trust in Political Institutions in Canada | Environics Institute for Survey Research | Environics Institute for Survey Research | January 2026
- Public Trust in Government: 1958-2025 | Pew Research Center | December 2025
- The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories | Sage Journals | December 2017
- Lyme disease: Monitoring | Government of Canada
- The Conspiracy Theory Handbook | Skeptical Science | March 2020
- Why Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are on the rise | PBS News | February 2022
- Why confirmed cases of Lyme disease have increased | Mayo Clinic – News Network | February 2024
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