Ticks, Lyme disease in NH (Concord, Portsmouth: school, move, suburban)

[MtnFlyer]

Val, Dare mentioned that they hadn't seen a tick in over two years since they moved to Littleton. Is that normal for that area, or have they just been fortunate? What I was wondering is if there is a point in the state where beyond that ticks aren't normally found?

[Scribbilyr]

Originally Posted by MidCityBrady

Hello everyone -
I spend the summers up in Maine and my friends use Damminix Tick Tubes to reduce the amount of Lyme-carrying ticks on their property. It's just one of the suggestions that the University of Rhode Island provides for protecting your yard and making it a safer place for your family to enjoy.

Tick Encounter Resource Center - Prevention

M-C-Brady, thank you for that website. That explains why my child never got bit -- he usually plays in the yard while I pull weeds. Our neighborhood is crawling with cats, however, so I'm surprised there are any mice left to infect the ticks. Anything is possible I suppose. Now I know what to look for when we move -- a big, sunny, flower-less yard with a natural deer-repellent border. Out west we had giant thorny wild rosebushes, the very dense kind that deer didn't bother with (probably because they could use the driveway!). How do those grow there? I guess a giant fence would work well too, although it seems kind of contradictory to the idea of moving into the country. Oh well, my husband always wanted a compound ... Thank you again. I feel calmer already.

[looking4home]

We have some cases of deer ticks that carry Lyme in the foothills of Northern CA, but mainly the regular kind that dogs carry.
However, we are asked to be vigilant because there have been reported cases, and it does exist here. My question is, what about deet? Does spraying yourself or your clothing before you go on hikes or in tick-prone places help repel them? I know you can't cover yourself head-to-toe with the stuff but it seems spraying shoes/boots, socks pants,etc, where they would most likely be picked up would also work to a certain extent.

[luvthatmouse]

My husband's sister got Lyme after being bit by a tic while sitting out on Boston Common! So it does not only happen in the woods/country.

[fishnfool]

Deet helps but it doesn't stop them. I find it really is only effective against mosquitos, not so much deer flies, ticks, or sand fleas. I spray it on my ankles and pants but I'll still find them if in a ticky place. I've never not put it one so it could be worse without.

Really the best defense is to wear light colored clothes, tuck your pants into your socks (if you want to look awesome), and do a check when you get home. They won't attach in the few hours you're outside so 9 times out of 10 a thorough check will catch them.

[MessengerGirl]

Hello, I just registered today, and for the ability to write Christian posts, but hey, I'll have a go at ticks, because even though they were created by God, I believe they are part of the curse! I now live in Manchester, NH, but in 1988, my family and I moved to the northern parts, particularly the Plymouth area, in order to raise our family in the mountains. We are avid hikers, campers, etc. I had to stop hiking several years ago due to my disability, but up to that time, I was found much of the summer, spring, and fall in the woods. In all of that time, I never found a tick on me. During the time I raised my family, when we were out in the woods camping and hiking, and we were out in the woods for weeks at a time, I never had to pull one tick off my children (or husband). I can't speak for my adult children, who still hike, because I don't know if they would tell me if they had a tick on them or not, but those are our statistics. Last year, due to my illnesses and debilitated condition, I had much lab work, including a test for Lyme disease, which was negative. I hope this has been helpful.

[MessengerGirl]

Hello, I just registered today, and for the ability to write Christian posts, but hey, I'll have a go at ticks, because even though they were created by God, I believe they are part of the curse! I now live in Manchester, NH, but in 1988, my family and I moved to the northern parts, particularly the Plymouth area, in order to raise our family in the mountains. We also moved around a bit, and lived in the Lakes Region, and also in the North Conway area. We are avid hikers, campers, etc. I had to stop hiking several years ago due to my disability, but up to that time, I was found much of the summer, spring, and fall in the woods. In all of that time, I never found a tick on me. During the time I raised my family, when we were out in the woods camping and hiking, and we were out in the woods for weeks at a time, I never had to pull one tick off my children (or husband). I can't speak for my now adult children, who still hike, because I don't know if they would tell me if they had a tick on them or not, but those are our statistics. Last year, due to my illnesses and debilitated condition, I had much lab work, including a test for Lyme disease, which was negative. I hope this has been helpful.

[MtnFlyer]

"No Tickie, no Lymie" Cute. I get it.

Hi Messenger Girl!

Welcome to the board. It does help. DareToDream is just about 50 miles north of Plymouth and she hasn't had any problems either. I'm really starting to wonder if the tick problem is primarily south of a certain point.

Maybe the CDC's site will show a map of the areas of the state where cases have been reported. If not maybe the state health department will have it broken down by counties.

Thanks and don't be a stranger.

[Rexicana]

Ticks don't like DEET, so they may wander to an area of your body not sprayed with DEET. Or maybe they will move off . . .

If you spray your clothes, NOT YOUR BODY, with PERMETHRIN - that stuff will kill a lot of ticks on contact.

Folk knowledge, and what we try to do, is use lots of tea tree oil and other essential oils that they don't like, and eat garlic. Then we do a lot of tick checks, keep hair short (with boys it is easier), and tuck in pants in fields or high plant areas.

After getting a slew of ticks two years ago in more urban areas, I decided to enjoy the country - and not worry about it too much (but use common sense). I honestly believe the diverse animal populations, less dense housing, and more open areas lead to a better chance of encountering a "healthy" tick than a sick one. I read in a few places that having 3 acres of woods or less, surrounded by homes, is really high risk because the only animals that can support are mice and deer.

[NH2008]

Here's a map:

http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/NR/rdonl...ymemap2007.pdf

My family is in Carroll County and my dad had a tick bite and Lyme earlier in the year.