Tick invasion

adventure bob · Nov 7, 2016

Global Warming? While scientist will argue about how to measure it and if its real or not, I'm a pragmatist: what changes are occurring around me to say that something is changing? I wont begin to try to assign a cause, too much politics in that question, I do believe things are a changing and bug populations are changing in response to the climate. growing seasons may be next.

ovrszd · Nov 7, 2016

rekees4300 said:
We use Frontline for Wood Ticks but it seems to have little effect on the Deer Ticks which have exploded in recent years. Have found them year around, even January! Some will scoff but I think Climate Change is a factor.

No scoffing here. But I'd rather think Deer Ticks would be more related to Deer population on your property, especially close to the buildings.

Thomas · Nov 7, 2016

Ticks also plentiful here

stir the leaves etc. on the ground feel those little suckers,clothes looks like someone sprinkle pepper on them.

ovrszd · Nov 7, 2016

adventure bob said:
Global Warming? While scientist will argue about how to measure it and if its real or not, I'm a pragmatist: what changes are occurring around me to say that something is changing? I wont begin to try to assign a cause, too much politics in that question, I do believe things are a changing and bug populations are changing in response to the climate. growing seasons may be next.

Our Planet and it's smaller residents evolve all the time. For example, RoundUp used to be the Chemical of choice for weed control. Now it's being phased out because the dominant noxious weeds have evolved and some are even RoundUp resistant now.

An example of bug evolution would be the Pine Beetles in the Rocky Mountain Forests. If you haven't saw that destruction do a Google search. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of acres of dead pine trees.

ovrszd · Nov 7, 2016

Hmmm,,, noticed a trend so far. Posters with worst tic problem are in the Eastern States.

Trails End · Nov 7, 2016

This year, the ticks are worse than usual here in southern NH. My wife and dog manage to
acquire at least two or more ticks during every daily walk, and if I go into the woods even
for a short walk, I can count on finding at least one or two ticks on me when I return to the
house.

toppop52 · Nov 7, 2016

Climate change is of course real and ongoing, it started the first day there was a climate on earth and it continues today. The cause assigned it recently though, I totally dismiss. It may play a role in tick infestation.

toppop52 · Nov 7, 2016

Fleas are by far the worst I've seen this year.

rekees4300 · Nov 7, 2016

ovrszd said:
No scoffing here. But I'd rather think Deer Ticks would be more related to Deer population on your property, especially close to the buildings.

That's a good point. It's likely the Deer population as well as Climate Change are factors. The deer population around here is high. Last Winter they even ate the scrubs by our house ... I wasn't a happy camper. Recently, for the first time in this county, Bovine TB was found in a few deer. Now the county health officials have panicked and intend to reduce (aka slaughter) the deer population back to its 1970's level. Some cow herds have also tested positive and been slaughtered. Perhaps an unintended consequence will be fewer Deer ticks?