First tick sighting of the year

[+Alan2]

I still sometimes think the 3 found at once on my shoulderblade last year are there. Creeps me out. Haven't picked up any out caching yet this year (at least none that I've disovered yet), but my husband somehow picked one up at a wedding we attended a couple weeks ago-- it attached to his neck somewhere between the reception and a visit to a craft store. They REALLY freak him out, so he wasn't at all pleased.

 

Edit: Oh yeah...and I got a mild case of some tick disease from those ticks last year. There were a grand total of 5 stuck on me after that camping weekend-- 2 on my inner thighs and 3 on my shoulder blades. I found the 2 thigh ones within a couple days, but didn't discover the shoulder ones for a couple weeks. One day about a week and a half after the camping trip, I broke out in a rash on my ankles and arms. Looked up tick diseases-- and sure enough, that is one symptom. Being uninsured and therefor unable to afford to run off to a doctor any time I'm a bit ill, I decided to give it a day or so to see if i got worse. I didn't have any of the really bad symptoms that were said to indicate serious trouble. The rash cleared up quickly and no other symptoms appeared, but boy was I scared. ICK! TICKS!

Lyme desease doesn't get better on its own. After the initial rash, (wich sometimes doesn't occur even though you may have it) it goes into hibernation and comes out later. Worse. You'd do yourself a favor by going to a doctor. Only antibiotics will kill Lyme and other tick borne deseases.

[+Lucky46]

Used to see tons of them when deer hunting. On the deer or rather baling off them. Trapsed around in lots of Ivy in the Feather River Canyon in N. Calif. middle of March and ended up pulling about a dozen off my mini long haired Doxy, but the missus and I were clean. The vet said around here the ticks don't carry any dangerous diseases. Yeah, right! They sure look dangerous.

[+minxyy]

A real pest in the UK is the "Blandford Fly" which causes the most itchiest bite you ever had!(and a similar sized reaction to lyme's disease) and it's only 3-7mm long so gets you without you even seeing it!

 

here's a few links for those of you that enjoy a good scritch! And unlike mossie's they attack at midday!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A6756519

 

http://www.dorsetshire.com/new/new.html

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20021016153344/.../blackflies.htm

 

Happy Easter all

[adm4984]

 

Can anyone tell me something good about ticks? Anything?

 

They dont like fire or rubbing alcohol. So, before going caching, douse yourself in rubbing alcohol and light a match. it is sure to keep the ticks away. i dont know how many caches you'll find though.....