[Ponderosa]

I was at my OK house around Christmas and decided to do some long overdue yardwork. I have a lot of tall grasses/weeds at the rear of my property and stay away from them in summer, having learned my lesson about chiggers a couple summers back. I waded into the grass thinking everything is dead or dormant now, but when we got back my trusty hounds who waded with me had many ticks. I want to believe we picked them up at a dog exercise area in Texas cuz I hate Texas anyway, so tell me - are ticks out of season now?, when do they come back? is it ever safe to walk in the woods without DEET?

Note: We are at Lake Tenkiller in the eastern part.

[HeatherDawn]

It depends on the weather. Warmer years will keep ticks active longer. I got one on my hunting trip at the end of Nov. down near McAlester. You might have gotten them in Texas but I wouldn't say that it's impossible that you got them in OK. Maybe someone else will disagree but I think usually a hard freeze kills most of them off.

[karibear]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I was at my OK house around Christmas and decided to do some long overdue yardwork. I have a lot of tall grasses/weeds at the rear of my property and stay away from them in summer, having learned my lesson about chiggers a couple summers back. I waded into the grass thinking everything is dead or dormant now, but when we got back my trusty hounds who waded with me had many ticks. I want to believe we picked them up at a dog exercise area in Texas cuz I hate Texas anyway, so tell me - are ticks out of season now?, when do they come back? is it ever safe to walk in the woods without DEET?

Note: We are at Lake Tenkiller in the eastern part.

First of all, you really should be treating all your dogs [and cats] with Advantage or Frontline or something like that, that also deters mosquitoes. Skeeters carry some nasty things that are much cheaper to prevent than cure, likewise ticks. As for tick season, I got Rocky Moutain spotted fever in November - ended up in the hospital in December, no less, totally out of season accordnig to the CDC. So don't assume that just because it's winter, all the creepy-crawlies have died off, they haven't.

[debbie at bouontiful]

I pulled a tick off one of my dogs this last week. I do live on a few hundred acres with lots of woods so that might be why but....I have ticks all year round but in the summer it is an almost impossible problem with my dogs. I actually pull ticks off me everyday during the summer to. I never saw a tick in my life until we moved to Eastern Oklahoma. When I lived up in the Northern Mid West we never saw a tick and were there also out in the farm land. So, maybe the hard freeze is right. I am near McAlester HeatherDawn. Now my daughter who lives by you in Stillwater doesn't get them but she is in town not out in the farm land, maybe that has something to do with it to.

Karibear, I only use deet in the Spring to Fall never in the winter. I am trying to give myself a break from the poisons. Also, I put Frontline on my dogs starting March till November. Cost and also again a poson. Anyway, right now I can check the dogs but when I see several a day the frontline is on. I also spray my entire backyard and frontyard but my dogs are running through creeks and ponds, woodsl, there is no way unless I hire an airplane to drop powder over the entire ranch. One reason I think of moving from OK is just to get rid of the bugs. Chiggers are horrible here too. I make a lotion with essential oils that help, and I use it at all times but when I go into the fields, I spray my whole body with deet once spring hits.

[nightbird47]

If your animals have long fur, check very carefully because its so easy to miss. If a tick gets in their fur but detaches it can be brought indoors. My sheltie had to be combed with a flea comb when I lived in socal and a neighbor went camping and did not wash his dogs before coming home. They were crawling on the fence for a time. Using Frontline and Advantage is important. And you'll pretty much eliminate fleas since they lose their host.

[HeatherDawn]

I used to use Frontline/Advantage and any number of other junk on my dog. He is an important part of my life. However, I got him when my situation was much different (was married and working full-time). I simply can't afford the stuff now. I used to feel bad about it but then I remembered that growing up, none of my pets ever got that kind of stuff. Not to mention that I don't spend money on health preventatives for myself. So, I'm sure not going to spend more money on my dog than on myself. He is in no way mistreated or deprived. For some reason, I have never seen a flea on him. Very few ticks. I would take care of the situation immediately if he did, though. Anyway, I know that was a little off-topic, just wanted to share my views on it...

[colleeng47]

Avon's Skin So Soft is supposed to be a mosquito deterrant. You might pick some up at their next sale and give your dog a bath in it. I understand it's used for horses, too.

[nomad57]

I have heard that Guinea hens are good for tick and flea suppression

Raising Guinea Fowl as tick predators to control Lyme Disease

[karibear]

Originally Posted by nomad57

I have heard that Guinea hens are good for tick and flea suppression

Raising Guinea Fowl as tick predators to control Lyme Disease

They make great watchdogs too - have you ever heard guineas? I wouldn't even think of having them if I had any neighbors within a mile!

[Mattie Jo]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I was at my OK house around Christmas and decided to do some long overdue yardwork. I have a lot of tall grasses/weeds at the rear of my property and stay away from them in summer, having learned my lesson about chiggers a couple summers back. I waded into the grass thinking everything is dead or dormant now, but when we got back my trusty hounds who waded with me had many ticks. I want to believe we picked them up at a dog exercise area in Texas cuz I hate Texas anyway, so tell me - are ticks out of season now?, when do they come back? is it ever safe to walk in the woods without DEET?

Note: We are at Lake Tenkiller in the eastern part.

I thought that they were quite dead. I have been taking my dogs to the river and we have been walking in the woods and have not a one tick. Also the dogs do not have tick and flea meds on them now and haven't since it froze in Oct or Nov.

And yes, be careful of tick fever. You should always check yourself after going through the woods in the spring, summer, and fall. I have been reading that if you get bite you should take antibotics for 10 days or so as a preventive measure. I am not sure if many doctors agree with this. But you need to read up on tick fever. Dogs can get it too but not as easily.


By the way, great to hear from you again.

I never use DEET because I don't trust it unless I just spray my clothing. So I don't walk in the woods in the spring or summer.

I found out for myself and from a friend that chiggers come out in august.