Didn't even make it to April .
Boo!
I hear 'em crawlin.
We barely had a winter so I've been pickin them here and there like it's still the fall.
One was tracking up my jeans last week, seems a bit early:(
Lucky you!
I never noticed a break. I was still picking them off in December and January. Haven't really been in tick infested places since then though.
We had a short break here, but I think I pulled my first one off back in January. We only had one, maybe two hard freezes here, and both lasted no longer than a day. I'm not looking forward to this year, I have a feeling I'll be getting bitten and stabbed constantly for the next 8 months.
Was bitten on Friday (first bite in several years). No irritation, it had been on overnight, I just felt a bump and found that little sucker enjoying breakfast.
Pulled it off and instantly started getting a reaction. Within an hour I had a swollen itchy rash about 6" in diameter. My stomach muscles in that area were extremely sore the following day. I nearly always get a reaction like this, it's an allergy to the saliva protein. I think they have a way of masking the protein while they are feeding and that's why I only had a reaction after I pulled it off. Also squeezing the tick when you take it off, causes them to regurgitate blood/salivia back into your blood stream, which can also spread any disease they might have.
Lesson - shower each night after walking in the brush/grass during tick season.
imaudigger, post: 421581, member: 7286 wrote: Was bitten on Friday (first bite in several years). No irritation, it had been on overnight, I just felt a bump and found that little sucker enjoying breakfast.
Pulled it off and instantly started getting a reaction. Within an hour I had a swollen itchy rash about 6" in diameter. My stomach muscles in that area were extremely sore the following day. I nearly always get a reaction like this, it's an allergy to the saliva protein. I think they have a way of masking the protein while they are feeding and that's why I only had a reaction after I pulled it off. Also squeezing the tick when you take it off, causes them to regurgitate blood/salivia back into your blood stream, which can also spread any disease they might have.
Lesson - shower each night after walking in the brush/grass during tick season.
If you get a reaction like this (the dreaded "bullseye") seek professional medical help:
10-4 on that. A little tick spray on the pants wouldn't hurt either...but showering asap seems to be the best solution to ticks as well as poison oak/ivy.
First bee sting today. Does that count?