2025: Year of the Tick

[CalG]

Well, between my wife and I, we pulled 5 ticks since last evenings shower.

3 for her (I don't mind looking for them)
2 for me,
They were all the little ones, and just getting started, so came off easily.
I need magnification to see the little buggers though.

 

[ArlyA]

Well, between my wife and I, we pulled 5 ticks since last evenings shower.

3 for her (I don't mind looking for them)
2 for me,
They were all the little ones, and just getting started, so came off easily.
I need magnification to see the little buggers though.

Those are deer ticks. I'd suggest using treated clothing.

 

[Blue Mule]

One of the problems I have is that during summer when it's hot and sticky I HATE wearing long pants. Hate it. I grew up working out in the field in blue jeans because that's all we really had back then and it turned me against long pants in hot weather. I realize that today's tech and fabrics are different, but I'm just a shorts and t-shirt kind of person.

The doc who is treating me for the Lyme says that she's had farmers tell her they wear a tick collar designed for cats around their ankles when they're in the field working. They claim it works like a charm. Never heard of that before....

 

[ArlyA]

One of the problems I have is that during summer when it's hot and sticky I HATE wearing long pants. Hate it. I grew up working out in the field in blue jeans because that's all we really had back then and it turned me against long pants in hot weather. I realize that today's tech and fabrics are different, but I'm just a shorts and t-shirt kind of person.

The doc who is treating me for the Lyme says that she's had farmers tell her they wear a tick collar designed for cats around their ankles when they're in the field working. They claim it works like a charm. Never heard of that before....

Me, I'd wear long pants over getting Lyme disease any day.

 

[ponytug]

One of the problems I have is that during summer when it's hot and sticky I HATE wearing long pants. Hate it. I grew up working out in the field in blue jeans because that's all we really had back then and it turned me against long pants in hot weather. I realize that today's tech and fabrics are different, but I'm just a shorts and t-shirt kind of person.

The doc who is treating me for the Lyme says that she's had farmers tell her they wear a tick collar designed for cats around their ankles when they're in the field working. They claim it works like a charm. Never heard of that before....

I wasn't wild about close fitting jeans in hot weather as a kid either. I find loose, but heavy pants and shirts keep me cooler than shorts and a T-shirt, but everyone is different.

I know folks who do use the tick collars on themselves, but I'd take permethrin any day. The chemicals in tick collars aren't as "human friendly" to my way of thinking.

All the best,

Peter

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

Around here some people lace the medicated cattle ear tags down low on their boot lases.

 

[grsthegreat]

I lived in snake country for many years…..glad i only have garden snakes where i live now…..they dont bother anything.

I hate snakes. I dont miss scorpions, black widows, ticks, fleas, potato bugs or any of the other nasty creatures that used to infest my home.

One of the great things about north idaho, i only need to worry about mosquitoes and yellow jackets. This year no yellow jackets, but tons of mosquitoes.

 

[ArlyA]

Moisture-wicking pants are generally better than jeans for wearing in the sun due to their ability to
manage sweat and keep you cool.

Here's a breakdown of the comparison:
Wicking Pants:

• How they work: Wicking fabrics pull moisture (sweat) away from your skin and spread it across the outer surface of the fabric for faster evaporation. This process helps regulate your body temperature and keep you feeling cooler.
• Benefits in the sun:
  • Sweat Management: Efficiently manages sweat, preventing that uncomfortable, clammy feeling associated with excessive perspiration.
  • Improved comfort: Lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying, they enhance comfort by reducing stickiness and promoting air circulation.
  • Temperature regulation: Evaporation helps cool you down, preventing overheating.
  • Reduced odor and bacteria growth: By keeping you drier, they minimize the environment for odor-causing bacteria to thrive.
• Examples: Often made with synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and spandex, or some natural fibers like bamboo and wool.

Jeans (Denim):

• How they work: Denim, particularly heavier types, tends to absorb and hold onto moisture, leading to a feeling of dampness and discomfort. It is not designed to wick away sweat effectively.
• Drawbacks in the sun:
  • Poor breathability: Denim is a tightly woven fabric that doesn't breathe well, trapping heat and making you feel warmer.
  • Doesn't wick moisture: Absorbs and holds onto sweat, making you feel wet and sticky.
  • Can become heavy and uncomfortable: Wet denim can be heavy and uncomfortable.

 

[CalG]

Last night , late, a couple of foxes were making all sorts of yowholing racket not so far from the house. I shined a bright flashlight out there but saw nothing as they were on the other side of a stone wall. The neighbor was aroused from his sleep and let off a .22 rat shot. That did quiet them for about five minutes. After a bit, the foxes moved on.

Got it got me to wondering, I've never heard nor seen anything of a "Tick ravaged fox" the likes that moose sometimes suffer.

 

[ponytug]

In the FWIW category: a deep dive into of ticks, their distribution (some neat maps showing the changes over the years), and tick borne diseases;

Bite-sized Threats of Ticks

All you need to know, including yes, misinformation

yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com

Apparently this close to "peak tick" for this year.

All the best,

Peter