Ticks- Best way to get rid of them?

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by LookinForMayberry

Here in Down East ME, I learned that ticks are so prevalent that they have to occasionally put down a moose because its been sucked to near death! Eeeck.

I've been advised that olive oil dropped on the tick, followed by a swipe with a cotton ball will wipe off the tick, until you can get that earth-stuff. (Thanks to that poster, btw, I will definitely look into getting some.)

I've always taken the cave-man approach - which is to say pinching the tick between thumb and forefinger and pulling - for myself and for my dogs. Never had a problem with "mouthparts left in the skin", infections or otherwise. I think that a lot of the urban/suburban/rural myths surrounding tick removal are probably something like bunk. For seed (deer?) ticks I think tweezers may be required, but the edge of a credit card has worked for me in a pinch. Its great for bee stingers also.