Ticks

[CP Dan]

I know no one likes to talk about this subject, but something we all need to think about is the tick population this year.

I was watching a news story last night and they were saying that with the mild temperatures we had over the winter the tick population will probably be pretty high.

So....for everyones health, make sure to protect yourself! It will be warm, but wear long pants, tuck your pants into your socks, wear a hat, and use bug repellent.

They also mentioned a bug spray that I am going to look into. The compound is Permethrin. They said that if you apply it to your clothes it will kill any tick that comes in contact. It will also remain on you clothing for a couple of washes. The little bit of research I have done on it so far has told me this: Safe for humans. TOXIC for felines. It is the same compound that is in a flea and tick collar for dogs (hence the reason you are not supposed to put the dog collars on cats). What I have decided that I am going to do, since we have a cat, is apply it to a set of clothing that I will wear specifically for mushroom hunting. I will then change my clothes in the garage so the cat will not come in contact. The compound also does not have a very good photo stability. Meaning: if you leave your clothes in the sun for an extended period of time, the compound will degrade. (leave clothes in the sun for a couple of days before bringing them indoors to wash them)

I am willing to do all of this to avoind those nasty little things. I have known a couple of people that have lymes disease and it is not something you want to mess with.

[omth]

Finn had a deer tick on him today... if they are out up on Lake Superior, they are out where you live too!

[Payne]

I've had two incidents of tick burrowing. It wasn't pleasant.
Has anybody tried cedarcide? I know it's meant for pets, but I heard a commercial in which they described it as a "tick repellent" for the "whole family."

[boof]

I picked two off my head yesterday. Didn't realize there would be so many already!

[blitzfish]

Finally found the first tick on me today... been more worried about mosquitoes as of late...

[Payne]

... ugh.

[shroomdoom]

Pulled a Deer Tick out of the back of my thigh a week ago.. Got it up by Ellsworth. Confirmed under a Microscope.. Nasty buggers... CAREFUL!

[omth]

LoLs... I hate to say it but Finn (my canine companion) has had 8 ticks this year alone, I have taken 2 deer and 3 wood out of my flesh and found 4 more crawling on me... this year alone. I am a certified Tick Magnet! Though... I do not use repellent most of the time, so it's my fault!

My first mushrooming year, I lived in Kansas and kept a mason jar next to my bed, at night I would pull ticks out of Finn and off of me, walking or chewing, and put them in the jar... by the end of the season my jar had over an inch of in it!

hehe, Tick Magnet.

[blitzfish]

Again as mentioned above, I highly recommend permethrin like Dan mentioned, but just don't let cats get anywhere near it as it is very poisonous to them (can cause tremors, seizures, or death). My turkey hunting clothes have a layer on it and I have some picking clothes set aside this year as well already so I am all set for the season to get rolling!

[CP Dan]

Went out quickly after work today to check on something. I did not have my hunting clothes with me and did not plan on doing a lot pf rummaging around so I didn't think it would be a big deal.

Boy was I wrong. Went to pick the kids up from daycare right after my hike. As I was packing up their stuff I felt something on my face. A grabbed at it and took an adult female deer tick off of me. That of course gave me the tick hebee gebees. Went to bowling after sending the kids home with mom and during practice felt a sharp prick on the back of my head right at the hair line. I took an adult male deer tick off of me right after he bit me. Damn it!

My permethrin treated clothes are now going into the car so that I have them when needed. Should have been planning ahead from the start.........

Edit: It's not so much the ones that I found that are bothering me, it's the small ones that I can't see......

[Earthmom]

I feel for you DD. I hate the ticks but I will take a tick any day over this nasty, festering, oozing poison Ivy I have all over. I was crawling around looking for morels and I guess there must have been poison something in the grass line. The one time I don't wear long sleeves I decide to crawl around looking for tiny morels. Normally I wear long sleeves, even when it's a 90 degrees out...but not last week. Duh... MARSH, that scalding water is working great but I'm pretty sure I'm giving myself 1st degree burns. Oh well, it's worth it to get four hours of relief! I just hope this nightmare ends soon.

[danesteve]

We lost our beloved 5-yr old lab in Dec due to kidney disease which the Vet felt it came from Lyme disease. He said that most dogs have joint problems as an indicator of Lyme however, in Labs, it seems to go straight to the kidneys. I learned my lesson the hard way, will test and treat the new pup.
FYI: I was religious about applying Frontline; it doesn't stop them all. When up north, I would still pull off 30 ticks in a weekend.

[tvacao]

Found two ticks today after an hour in the woods. I hate ticks with a passion and I feel your pain. Sorry to hear about the poison ivy Earthmom...hope you feel better soon.

[omth]

Danesteve, you can get the lymes vaccine for dogs, I highly recommend it... two weeks after my dog was vaccinated he had a bulls eye rash from a deer tick, I waited a few months and had him tested and BAM... he is fine.

[danesteve]

Earthmom, poison ivy sucks, sorry to hear about your bout with it. Of all of the home remides, it still has to run it's course.

Omth, I am aware of the vaccine however, I've been reluctant to give it as I have heard it is not 100% and only lasts 1-2 months. Thanks for the feedback of your success; I may give it a try this year. Willing to try anything to avoid the loss of another dog. Is it only available through a vet or can it be purchased over the counter at say, Farm & Fleet?