I was on a long romp through the Oklahoma cross timbers a few days ago helping a past client recover about 20 corners I set almost 10 years ago.?ÿ It was a warm day and I was keenly aware that our minuscule nemesis the tick would be out also.
I dressed appropriately and fogged myself liberally with Deep Woods Off periodically through the day.?ÿ When I got home I immediately dropped all my laundry, threw it in the washer and headed for the shower.?ÿ I did catch one tiny seed tick wandering around my ankle.?ÿ He was quickly dispatched. The next day (yesterday) I reached up under my arm and found one of those hitchhikers just barely attached.?ÿ Dammit.?ÿ He was delivered to the great beyond with a Bic lighter and a sailor's funeral.
I have endured a Rickettsia Rickettsii infection (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever) and tested asymptomatic positive for granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) because of these little bastards.?ÿ I hate 'em.?ÿ
I just wanted to warn you all the season is here.?ÿ I've worked for years pulling ticks off of me at the end of the day.?ÿ But health officials are now telling us the percentage of captured ticks that carry these deadly bacterium is spiking. Take care of yourself and keep the brush cooties?ÿto a minimum.?ÿ You really don't want to get sick from from a tick bite.?ÿ If you don't believe me, ask Nate.
And if need be, enlist the help of a young health care professional (I prefer those with maternal instincts) with good eyesight to check you for ticks in the shower.?ÿ 😉
Now you all can return to washing your hands and counting your toilet paper rolls...
Just pulled one from my nether region the other evening, worst one I've ever gotten, it's currently on its way to be tested for Lyme. I absolutely despise those nasty little creatures and can't find a single value to their existence.
I spent last summer working tick rich environment.?ÿ My wife, being the pro-am witch doctor she is, made me this repellent made of various essential oils.?ÿ It seemed to work well, when I used it.?ÿ As an additional plus, it had a pleasant smell that I'm sure my trailer-mate appreciated.?ÿ Two guys in 24 foot trailer for weeks on end can start to smell.
Rude little bastards, don't leave after dinner, no manners.
All good advice so far.?ÿ Some more that I have acquired being in Dutchess County:
Check for ticks EVERY night after being out.?ÿ Here, that even means on manicured lawns. And check the next morning for the one you missed, which happens once in a while no matter how well you search the first time.
Checking includes looking everywhere!?ÿ I have found, and initially missed, the little bastards dug in to the family jewels and on the back of my elbow.
If you think you feel something crawling on you, LOOK! You might be right, and it is better to be wrong than sorry.
If you have flue like symptoms and it is not flue season, see your doctor ASAP.?ÿ It the ticks get you, you CANNOT tough it out and win.?ÿ They will make you sicker than you can imagine.?ÿ The antibiotics mess with the digestive tract, but they work, if started in time.?ÿ The longer you wait, the harder it gets to fix.
Remember to check!
Ken
?ÿ
It's coming up on 50 years this June since I started my surveying career, and after years of not worrying about much more than mosquitoes and black flies, I remember well the fear instilled by those little blood sucking bastards in the mid-80's, when I lost a great rodman to Lyme contracted on a power line job in NY state, back when no one knew what the heck was going on. The poor guy lived through it, but never worked again. Other than that, I've been fortunate to work most of my career in an area where ticks didn't show up 'til the last ten years or so. When they did though, I bought all very light colored clothing, even wore white Under Armour underneath everything for a while (but with the heat it was too much!), tucked my pants in my socks, and dumped all my clothes in the clothes dryer when I got home (heat kills 'em, water does not), and jumped in the shower after doing a tick check. During the day, those light colored clothes helped me see ticks, as I'd check my pants, long sleeved shirts and hat probably 15-20 times, pulling 'em off my clothes before they could get me. Most of that changed about 5 years ago, when I discovered Permethrin. Once a week I spray it on all my field clothes: boots, socks, pants, shirts, vest, and hat, let it dry for a few hours, and put 'em on when I head for the woods. I still do a tick check a few times during the day, but I haven't even seen a tick the last two tick seasons, and the thing I like about it most is, it doesn't just repell 'em, it kills 'em! It also works on mosquitoes. I order the stuff from Amazon, and two bottles last a whole season for me. And, after it dries on your clothes, unlike DEET, it's non-toxic to humans and most mammals, except cats, but you do need to be careful when applying it.
First let me say that I am not a salesman for this product. ?ÿI had sent my clothes to them last year to be treated and found only 3 ticks on me all of last year.
They treat your clothes with permithrine. It lasts for 70 washes and no need to use ??Off?. I hate spraying that stuff on my skin.?ÿ
You type ??Insect Shield Your Own Clothes? into google. You go ahead and purchase the amount of items you plan on sending to them. ($10 per items of clothing sent -$10 per pair of socks). Print out the receipt and mail them your clothes with the receipt on top. You get your clothes back in a couple of weeks all treated. Your pants and shirts have a tag sewn into them and your socks have a stamped on the bottom to let you know they have been treated.?ÿ
Do what ever it takes to not get diseases from those little things.?ÿ
I'm not afraid of snakes, I don't like bees, but I HATE ticks.?ÿ When I was a young whipper snapper I went in to get a haircut and had the very attractive young lady who was cutting my hair scream in my ear.?ÿ She had found a tick in the fold of my ear.
Back when we wore plumb bobs all the time that was my preferred method of killing ticks.?ÿ No, I didn't smash them, that would be too quick.?ÿ I would screw the top off and drop them in.?ÿ Starve the %&#(&^s to death.
Andy
..Back when we wore plumb bobs all the time that was my preferred method of killing ticks.?ÿ No, I didn't smash them, that would be too quick.?ÿ I would screw the top off and drop them in.?ÿ Starve the %&#(&^s to death.
Andy
Not a bad idea.?ÿ?ÿ
When I'm working I have a sixth sense about those little boogers crawling on me.?ÿ I can feel them anywhere.?ÿ I'm partial to immediately retrieving them, holding them still between the fingernails of one hand and picking off their legs with my thumbnail on the other hand.?ÿ Then I drop them them on the ground to wait on the next bird or lizard that might think they're tasty.?ÿ
Good enough for 'em.
I burn them with a Bic lighter
Beware of those little yellow flowers like Helenium and other wild types along the side of game trails and cow trails, seed ticks hide under the leaves and grab hold of whatever brushes against them.
Great now we can have Corona with Lyme
https://blog.nwf.org/2017/06/opossums-unsung-heroes-in-the-fight-against-ticks-and-lyme-disease/
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.