+American Eagle Posted May 10, 2003 Posted May 10, 2003 Just thought I would remined everyone that the ticks are back. I found one on myself while out Friday GEOCACHING, so becareful, and remember to check yourself when you get back. I've Lost My Marbles Quote
+Team Kuebbing Posted May 10, 2003 Posted May 10, 2003 I pulled a big fat one off my leg after driving up to Canada from Ft. Drum to do some caches on Thursday. Time to put the jeans back on. Quote
marty621 Posted May 10, 2003 Posted May 10, 2003 Here in central New Jersey, the ticks never sleep. They are out on warm days even in January. Quote
Greyflank Posted May 11, 2003 Posted May 11, 2003 What is it about ticks, anyway? They drink your blood until they are full, fall off, and then die. Where does that fit into their life cycle? They have to eat something before they get big enough to bite thru your skin and I know they start off mite sized. Why isn't that enough for the rest of their lives? Is it spite that they bite you and never let go? Or are they just reincarnated lawyers? I mean, I understand why a mosquito bites... it's only the female ones and its for fertilizations if I rememember correctly. I know I could look this info up, but I've seen enough ticks this weekend. *nods* I now bring this little scraper with me and tuck in my pants as I bushwhack. I've noticed that when I touch them with my fingers they seem to try to dig into my pants, but when the scraper goes near them, they fling themselves off. I don't know if that'll help anyone with them, but it really did work well This Horse Writes Quote
+Florafloraflora Posted May 11, 2003 Posted May 11, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Greyflank:What is it about ticks, anyway? They drink your blood until they are full, fall off, and then die. Where does that fit into their life cycle? They have to eat something before they get big enough to bite thru your skin and I know they start off mite sized. Why isn't that enough for the rest of their lives? ... I mean, I understand why a mosquito bites... it's only the female ones and its for fertilizations if I rememember correctly. I know I could look this info up, but I've seen enough ticks this weekend. *nods* ... This Horse Writes As I understand it your blood is their food. They feed on deer and other mammals too. I had Lyme disease two years ago and I have no desire to try that again. Here's my question: how can you tell if you have a deer tick? What I've heard is that the bigger ticks, the ones that are easy to see (about the size of a nailhead), don't carry Lyme disease. The deer ticks, which do, supposedly are pinhead-sized. I never saw the tick that gave me Lyme disease - I had something on the back of my knee but I thought it was just a scabby bug bite. How can you tell if you get one of these things? Quote
+Alan2 Posted May 11, 2003 Posted May 11, 2003 Check this page for the Deer Tick life cycle. Larvae, the first stage after the egg, cannot carry Lyme until they feed on a Lyme infected hosts such as field mice. But the Nymphs and much larger adults can carry Lyme as at these stages the tick has already fed and if the host carried Lyme, most likely the tick will get infected. You're really not safe at any time of the year unless it's under 40 detgrees so you should take precautions. Alan Quote
+Alan2 Posted May 11, 2003 Posted May 11, 2003 Ticks including Deer as well as other type ticks can carry deseases besides Lyme such as Rocky Mountain SPotted Fever, erlichiosis, etc. so you have to be cautious with all ticks. Alan Quote
+Team Shibby Posted May 11, 2003 Posted May 11, 2003 Not to mention they are f*!&@^#$ gross!! Yuck Why couldn't the woods be infected with lightning bugs? Quote
+Polgara Posted May 11, 2003 Posted May 11, 2003 quote:Why couldn't the woods be infected with lightning bugs? Lightning bugs? How about $20 bills?!! Now THAT would be some cache!!!! LOL! "The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the Creator." - Louis Pasteur Quote
+Florafloraflora Posted May 12, 2003 Posted May 12, 2003 Lightning bugs, yeah... Thanks, Alan, that picture of a deer tick looks about the size of the "scab" on the back of my knee. Bast**d. I know to check carefully now whenever I come in from time spent in the woods. Quote
+Planet Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 Ticks will come out if it's over something like 40°F. I've already found lots this year, and I think I was bitten twice, I know I was bitten once. They were never this prolific when I was a kid. Never! I never even saw a tick until I was in high school and I was in the woods and fields all the time. Now ticks are everywhere. Cache you later, Planet So many caches, so little time. Quote
+briansnat Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 They seem to be more numerous this year. I've found more ticks on my clothing this year than I did combined in my previous 43 years. I also found the first one attached and snacking. Oddly enough it was in an area that I had sprayed with DEET. My wife also had one attached and is taking antibiotics to prevent Lyme. "It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues" -Abraham Lincoln Quote
Greyflank Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 Well, I got myself a big ole can of Deep Woods OFF! I'm hoping that it'll be pretty effective in getting close to the ALLAIRE ELECTRIC CACHE. That thing's guarded by hundreds of them. It's gotta be more effective than beating the bushes with a stick before stepping forward. I'm hoping, at least. This Horse Writes Quote
+Last Lap Gang Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 I have two SE Pennsylvania cache hides that have become Tick Havens. The posts are incredible. I think I should post MASH units near both. Dracula would starve to death near them. One cacher quoted 15 ticks on their leg as they signed the log on a log. Wags, Russ & Erin Quote
+ZeeWire Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 I read somewhere that to be infected, the tick needs to be attached to the host for al least 24hours, so as long as one gets home and puts their gear into a nice washing, and then take a shower, they should be ok. I also heard a while ago, something about a new Lyme Disease vaccine. I was wondering if anybody here had those shots, and if so, how effective are they. Quote
+briansnat Posted May 13, 2003 Posted May 13, 2003 quote: I read somewhere that to be infected, the tick needs to be attached to the host for al least 24hours, so as long as one gets home and puts their gear into a nice washing, and then take a shower, they should be ok. Yes, with most people, in the majority of cases, this is true much of the time. . quote:I also heard a while ago, something about a new Lyme Disease vaccine. I was wondering if anybody here had those shots, and if so, how effective are they. The vaccine, LYMErix, has been taken off the market. "It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues" -Abraham Lincoln Quote
+Gargoyle Posted May 14, 2003 Posted May 14, 2003 LYMErix Be sure to remove any trash you find when you are geocaching in the woods. Thanks. Quote
+Gargoyle Posted May 14, 2003 Posted May 14, 2003 Read This Be sure to remove any trash you find when you are geocaching in the woods. Thanks. Quote
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