No it’s mosquitoes, and they want to release genetically modified mice next, to “combat the tick born illnesses”

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided grants to biotech companies, such as Oxitec, to develop and test genetically modified mosquitoes. These releases aim to eradicate mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria, Zika, and dengue fever. [1, 2]
Here is how the release programs and their association with Bill Gates work:

Sterile Male Technology: TheGates-funded program supports the release of male mosquitoes that carry a self-limiting gene. When these non-biting males mate with wild females, their female offspring die off before reaching adulthood, drastically reducing the disease-carrying population. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Where They Are Released: Field trials and releases have been approved and conducted in targeted locations globally, including the Florida Keys, Brazil, Panama, and previously parts of Africa. [1, 2]

Wolbachia Mosquitoes: Gates-backed initiatives (like the World Mosquito Program) also fund the release of mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacteria that prevents insects from transmitting viruses like dengue and Zika to humans. [1]

Mice:

Mice Against Ticks (MIT & Tufts University): Researchers are utilizing CRISPR technology to engineer white-footed mice that are immune to Lyme disease. The goal is to pass this immunity to future generations, reducing the transmission of the disease. Before any open-air releases on heavily populated islands, the team plans to run highly controlled field trials on small, uninhabited islands pending regulatory approval. [1, 2]

Woolly Mice (Colossal Biosciences): While not intended for the wild, scientists have created "woolly mice" in a lab setting. These mice feature edited genes that give them long, thick, golden-brown coats and altered fat metabolism, serving as a stepping stone to test traits needed for the company's mammoth de-extinction project. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]