Ticks???

[Chuck52]

Both the tick and deer populations seemed low this year. As a fruit and nut tree grower, they are both pests to me. Hunting season is on here and last I heard my in-laws had only bagged three deer. Last year or the year before, they got thirteen.

Chuck

 

[Jstpssng]

funny how localised the population can be. I worked down in Southern ME and Eastern NH for years; I'd be in one town for a week and kill about 25 ticks from me, and that many off the dog each day. Move 3 towns over and I might never have a problem.

I tried Frontline back then, but it only lasted a few days to a week as she was in the water every day. 8 years later, and I believe they've improved the formula. I very rarely find ticks now though, so don't worry about it.

 

[Bird]

I didn't think of it earlier, but one explanation I've read for us not having ticks in the south hardly at all anymore is that the fire ants killed all of them. Of course I don't know whether that's a fact, or just speculation, but I guess it's a possibility.

 

[tallyho8]

We do have plenty of fire ants and no ticks here South of Lake Ponchartrain but there are ticks in the piney woods North of the lake.

 

[QRTRHRS]

As a kid in the late '70s around CT I never remember seeing a tick, and we pheasant hunted hard throughout the fall. For the last 10 years it really feels like the tick popuplation is on the rise. When I go deer hunting I sit in my stand and scan my clothes for ticks. There isn't a time I go in the early to mid fall that I don't find at least a couple crawling around.

I had one tick stuck behind my left knee and one in my waist this year already. My 4 yo son had a tick stuck in his scalp that my wife found while brushing his hair a couple weeks back. When I rake the leaves I am sure to find a couple around my ankles. I am not sure I can tell the difference between a deer tick and any other kind, all the ones I see are pretty small and about the same size. I have read that the potential lyme carrying carrying ticks are much small deer ticks, not sure what those are candidly.

Indeed they are pretty nasty and I would rather not have them around.

Every single deer I take has several stuck in around their necks and under their legs. When you skin them and take a hard look at the inside of their skin you can see all the wholes made by the ticks, must be frustrating for the deer.

You really need to do a little research living where you do. A nympth deer tick is about this big > . The adults are maybe 1/16-1/8 of an inch in diameter.

 

[Western]

I didn't think of it earlier, but one explanation I've read for us not having ticks in the south hardly at all anymore is that the fire ants killed all of them. Of course I don't know whether that's a fact, or just speculation, but I guess it's a possibility.

I'd rather have the ticks!!!!

 

[Bird]

I'd rather have the ticks!!!!

You know I've also read that the fire ants are beneficial to the cotton farmers because they've wiped out the boll weevils.

 

[Oleozz]

For years we had no ticks on our farm and since I train bird dogs here I didn't have to worry about Lyme. In the past two years that has all changed and every time I run a dog they come back with 10-12 deer ticks on them. I was bit on the arm two weeks ago and since I have chronic Lyme disease I worry about every new bite. I wear tick collars on the dogs and try to spray myself with Off before I go out in the fields but it doesn't seem to help much.

 

[ToddW]

First, I know this is a 5 month old thread, but I noticed no one mentioned the Preventic collar.

We had the worst ticks last year that I can ever remember. We even had them in the house (we have several house dogs) and nothing worked to keep them off the dogs. We were fogging and spraying every couple of weeks in the house just to keep them at a tolerable level. It was HORRIBLE!

Then a friend of ours who is a Vet tech told us to try the Preventic collar.

Wow, 24 hours after the collars were on the dogs, no more ticks. It paralyzes the ticks jaw and it can't attach, falls off the dog and dies. This also took care of the tick problem in the house. The collar lasts about 3 months and costs about $10 each if you buy them online or about $20 dollars at your vet.

Just thought I'd mention this since its that time of year again.

Now if I could only find a way to take care of the mosquitoes as easily

/TW

 

[Thomas]

Any info on ticks is good Todd..thanks.

Got bad feeling its going to be good year for the ticks in our back yard.

 

[The Haymaker]

Valium did wonders for my ticks, now to work on the Tourette's.

 

[foggy1111]

Our area is terrible with tics.....and we have lots of lyme disease in our state. I was quite concerned about it as I spend allot of time outdoors on my land. A year ago I learned about REPEL PERMANOME......which is a chemical you spray on your clothes. This product is the real deal.

My wife and I quickly became absolute believers in this product. We have had nearly 0 tic problems as opposed to people (whom we have worked alongside) having dozens of tics that do not treat their clothing. I know allot of foresters, loggers and others that use this product and swear by it as well. Lasts about two weeks even after washing your clothing. DO NOT put it on your skin.

If your worried about tics....look into it.

 

[LRTX1]

Ticks bites aren't anything to take litely. I got bit last summer and devolped the Bulls-Eye rash. I almost did nothing about it becuase it looked like it was going away. I finally went to get it checked out, I tested positive for Lymes and had to take anti-biotics for a month. It sure beat the alternative.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Guinea hens - look into their benefits if you live on an acreage with lots of ticks.

 

[dmccarty]

Our area is terrible with tics.....and we have lots of lyme disease in our state. I was quite concerned about it as I spend allot of time outdoors on my land. A year ago I learned about REPEL PERMANOME......which is a chemical you spray on your clothes. This product is the real deal.

This stuff WORKS. I have used it for years and a treatment lasts the season.

But I have been lazy and not treating the clothes for the last few years. I have been spraying my legs with whatever bug spray with DEET was on sale at the store. The clothes treatment does work well and is likely cheaper than the spray.

We are in a warm spell right now and the ticks are already out in force even though we had one of the coldest winters in decades. I had a couple of dozen on me the other day. :confused2: Thankfully they did not bite.

Just remember to tuck your pants legs into your socks.

Later,
Dan