[arctichomesteader]

I came across a dead moose carcass this spring and took a video of what I found (don't have time to post it). Literally every square inch of that moose was covered in crawling ticks. That sight will leave your skin crawling for a while.

[harry chickpea]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

I came across a dead moose carcass this spring and took a video of what I found (don't have time to post it). Literally every square inch of that moose was covered in crawling ticks. That sight will leave your skin crawling for a while.

Awwww, Bullwinkle!!! Alas, poor Bullwinkle! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath borne me on his back a thousand times, and now, ...

[sami-]

We live in Rutland area in a rural home and go hiking daily including off-trail hiking through the underbrush. Our experience has been that if you always wear knee-high boots and use a tick-repellent (we use lavender essential oil) on the boots and a few drops around the legs on your pants, there won't be any issues. Picaridin works too as a repellent, however it's not as harmless as lavender oil. This works for both deer ticks and dog ticks. The one time that I went ten steps into our yard without the boots, I got a tick on me, so I guess we do live in a high infestation area. Hope this helps!

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by arctichomesteader

I came across a dead moose carcass this spring and took a video of what I found (don't have time to post it). Literally every square inch of that moose was covered in crawling ticks. That sight will leave your skin crawling for a while.

Those are winter ticks. Not deer ticks. Not dog ticks. No threat to humans.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Those are winter ticks. Not deer ticks. Not dog ticks. No threat to humans.

That moose was a variety pack of different ticks. Coincidentally or not it was right after that I began having tick problems on my property and I got lyme disease twice since.

[harry chickpea]

Ticks can be a carrier of many diseases, including https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/c...fact_sheet.htm

I wouldn't trust ANY tick, any more than I would a razor blade in a pig pen. In addition to ticks, I have to deal with chiggers and fire ants. I finally figured out that leggings tucked into socks kept me safe from ticks on my nethers and lower legs that had more pock marks than the moon has craters. The Hindi and Brits were on to something with their puttees. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puttee

I keep a two week course of doxy at home, in the event that I do get a tick that attaches more than briefly. I'm not going to waste the important valuable time after first contact waiting to see a doc.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

Ticks can be a carrier of many diseases, including https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/c...fact_sheet.htm

I wouldn't trust ANY tick, any more than I would a razor blade in a pig pen. In addition to ticks, I have to deal with chiggers and fire ants. I finally figured out that leggings tucked into socks kept me safe from ticks on my nethers and lower legs that had more pock marks than the moon has craters. The Hindi and Brits were on to something with their puttees. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puttee

I keep a two week course of doxy at home, in the event that I do get a tick that attaches more than briefly. I'm not going to waste the important valuable time after first contact waiting to see a doc.

Well that link is to a disease spread by one species of tick (deer tick). I've had lyme a couple of times, it happens with my work and hobbies. But I'm certainly not going to worry about wood ticks, which is almost 98% of what I find on me. When I work on Nantucket I certainly am going to be hyper aware of lone star ticks. I don't see the reason to spread fear though.

[harry chickpea]

The tests for Lyme are not very accurate. You may have been treated for it and not actually had it - or maybe you actually did. Doctors generally are aware that prompt treatment is important as a prophylactic. I've been through that.

I have a friend in Georgia whose life was ruined by Lyme, she is bedridden most of the time at this point. I've done some checking into Lyme, as I did with radon gas, as I did with asbestos. Of the three, IMO, Lyme and the related diseases are by FAR the most dangerous. Not spreading fear, simply suggesting an abundance of caution and readiness to be proactive.

[timberline742]

But again, wood ticks, the far most common tick, doesn't carry lyme. We know this. Being fearful of all ticks is not being "cautious", it's being needlessly fearful, IMO.

[harry chickpea]

But again, I have concerns about diseases other than Lyme as well as Lyme. Fear is an emotion. I have no "fear" of ticks, as some do to spiders and snakes. I have a reasoned caution and have taken precautions rather than ignoring the issue. If you wish to be uncautious, no skin off my nose.