Pests in IF area (ticks, chiggers, Lyme disease etc) (Idaho Falls: move to, clothing)

[januaryicecream]

Hello everyone!

My husband and I are from Southern California and are considering a move to Idaho Falls (or nearby). We're also looking at Washington and Dallas.

Being from Orange County, I am not used to many bugs, and what has me concerned the most at the moment is Lyme Disease from ticks. I'm also uneasy about the thought of chiggers and fire ants, etc.

I'll admit it before anyone has the chance to call me out on it, but yes, I'm a major baby when it comes to insects.

Anyway, are ticks prevalent in Idaho Falls? If I rarely go outside (besides to walk my small dog on paved streets) and pretty much never hike in the woods, would I likely encounter ticks?

Thanks very much for your input!

[cleosmom]

If you stay away from the hills where the tall grasses are, you pretty safe. I don't use any flea/tick preventive unless the dogs are with us when we drive to CA

Having said that, I worked at a boarding kennel here for over a decade and the only time I saw a tick is when the groomer would find it on a snowbird's dog when they returned in Spring.

To say they are non-existent, would be a lie, but far less prevalent here than they are in So Cal

[januaryicecream]

Thank you for responding cleosmom!! That sounds like good news to me!

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by januaryicecream

Thank you for responding cleosmom!! That sounds like good news to me!

You're welcome. Also want to add that the only time we used heartworm preventive was going to CA.

Having said that, if you find yourself in a position to where you need to kennel your dog(s), I would speak to a vet about a flea/tick preventive as we get dogs and cats from everywhere here.

[TheKezarWoodsman]

Not to hijack this thread, but how are the deer ticks in the northern half of idaho out in the woods and mountains?

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by wolfhelm

Not to hijack this thread, but how are the deer ticks in the northern half of idaho out in the woods and mountains?

wolfhelm, I would highly suggest using a preventive any time in the woods.

[banjomike]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

wolfhelm, I would highly suggest using a preventive any time in the woods.

Or out on the sagebrush prairies as well. The easiest tick preventatives are boots with high tops, long pants, long enough to keep not pull up and expose flesh when sitting, and long sleeved shirts.

Anoter good preventative is a broom by the door. Giving one's self a good brooming-down after spending a day in tick territory gets the ticks off you and onto the ground where they can be taken care of.

If they cant get at you, they can't latch onto you. Sprays that work on bare skin also work quite well sprayed on clothing, too.

The more time out you spend, the more chance you'll carry one of the buggers home. That's a fact, but don't make it easy or taste good for them and you won't be picking as many off in the bathtub later.

And check your kids every time they come in with an eagle's eye, especially their hair. Little kids are…. little. A tick can get on them when it can't get on an adult. The same goes with all pets that go out with you.

You don't have to worry much in town or around any plowed farmland. But out in the boonies, its a lot easier to accept sweating a little than risk wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flops. That's a tick banquet in the making for sure.