ticks

[Teresa Cline]

anyone having problems with ticks lately? they seem to be worse than ever. they're also the small deer tick known to carry Lyme disease I think. just totally creeps me out...they are on the dogs and on me every time I'm in the yard.

 

[sunspotbaby]

I haven't seen any this year. You've got a pretty 'wild' yard in the woods too so maybe that's why you see more. And by wild, I mean no disrespect...I mean it's just very natural and woodsy...the way mine would be if it weren't for kids. Every time we go stompin' in the natural woods, we get a few stowaways. Check yo-self!

 

[Teresa Cline]

I haven't seen any this year. You've got a pretty 'wild' yard in the woods too so maybe that's why you see more. And by wild, I mean no disrespect...I mean it's just very natural and woodsy...the way mine would be if it weren't for kids. Every time we go stompin' in the natural woods, we get a few stowaways. Check yo-self!

I do live in a wild woodsy setting...just never had so many of the little buggers everywhere all the time before! I was just wondering if it was an unusual year for ticks for anyone else. I really hate putting Frontline on my dogs and only apply it sparingly when desperately needed, its really nasty toxic stuff, usually my alternative methods work for fleas but this tick thing is something altogether different. omg...its hard living in swamplands, it's a never ending battle claiming my space!

 

[Mango]

I bought this product from Garlic Research Labs and it worked great. You put it in a sprayer and on a day that you know you won't get any rain for a at least a day afterward, you spray it. It's pretty potent smelling, but it worked so good, I didn't need to do it for another month. You can't smell it after 6 hours. You spray tree trunks and grass with it, anywhere where the bugger will hide out. I bought it mainly for a mosquito repellent, but it also works to repels ticks. You also spray pretty heavily along the edges of your property to keep them from coming on your property. I haven't seen a tick on my dog or self all summer. I am not sure how much anaplasma you have in Sowal, but they do have a vaccine for dogs against Lyme disease that is supposed to be pretty effective, however, I don't get it for my dog because Lyme is not the only infection, so why bother? Anaplasma is pretty prevalent here and I have to imagine it is everywhere, especially in moist areas.

But, the best natural repellent that myself and others have found and experimented with is rose geranium. In studies conducted by friends of mine who have gotten Lyme and are landscapers, rose geranium seems to send ticks running for the hills. The Garlic spray will have instructions for how much water to product. The rose geranium is one part RG to 6 parts water or whatever you can tolerate. Also, eucalyptus oil works pretty good if you have a problem with rose geranium or you can mix the two. Use a dark spray bottle and keep out of the sun. Soaking a bandana overnight in one of these mixtures and tying it on your dogs neck is very helpful. Wear white socks over your pants and spray it on your legs (since ticks crawl upwards toward carbon dioxide)

Personally, I use Vectra 3D now on my dog because it repels ticks, but if it attaches, it paralyzes the jaw of it, so hitchhikers can't bite anyone else or bite long enough to cause disease in your dog, but that is not a natural product. I use them all and haven't seen a tick on my dog all summer and he goes in the woods, not to mention that I have had deer bedding down on my property. I also have many cherry trees they are attracted to, also. I would prefer not use chemicals, but I have seen too many dogs get very sick and lame, even die from tick borne diseases.

If you have a small yard, the natural stuff, if diligently used, will work like a charm.

http://www.garlicbarrier.com/

 

[sunspotbaby]

I remember one year when i was little, my mom's house was invaded by ticks! She had a large back patio and you could see them 100's of them walking toward the house. It was like we were under attack! We had a huge population of caterpillars one year too. Weird stuff. Good luck Teresa!

 

[Teresa Cline]

thanks for the really great info Mango! I'm going to try the garlic spray. You also suggested wearing white socks because the ticks crawl up your legs but I read recently that ticks drop out of the trees onto their victim, any input about that? Most of the time when I find them on me they are on my head-neck-shoulder areas so makes me wonder about the "dropping" scenario.

 

[Mango]

Ticks breed on the ground, but they will climb up bushes and tall grasses since animals brush by these and it gives them a better opportunity to get on animals. The disease originates from the white footed mouse, so obviously, ticks stay low. I am not sure where people have gotten the idea that ticks can jump. Have you ever seen a tick jump like a grasshopper? Hanging out in a tree isn't going to be nearly as effective to catch a meal than being lower to the ground to crawl up small game and animals. Ticks also prefer moist places, so remove dead leaves and check the moist dark areas of the body first, like armpits, under the neck, etc.

I said to wear white socks over pants, but if you are wearing shorts, I know it looks silly, but wear them if you are in your yard. The reason I say this is because it is much safer to spray essential oils on your clothing than your skin. I also use those wrist sports cuffs and you can spray those, too.

If the situation is really bad, I would find a place for your dogs for a couple of days and spray with pyrethrum, at least just once; now being he best time. The reason is you want to break the cycle before they over winter and spring the nymphal ticks will be hungry and ready for their first meal. Ticks feed three times in their lives. The deer tick in it's nymphal stage is ridiculously small and hard to see, especially on black pets. I know people like to be all organic and natural, but trust me, what Lyme disease and the coinfections do to the body are far worse than any possible exposure to pesticides. It is the fastest growing infectious disease and is highly under reported.

 

[scooterbug44]

We were always told to wear a hat with a brim if ticks dropping onto your head was a concern.

Of course, we were kids so we just did whatever, then got checked for ticks at cocktail hour. Mama Scooterbug favored the nail polish remover, Papa Scooterbug was a fan of the burnt match. Both methods are NOT recommended by the medical profession!

 

[Mango]

I guess it's not totally impossible that they may be in trees like palms since they don't get very tall, but from a survival standpoint, it is hardly the way to increase the chances of of a succulent meal by doing a kamikaze on a bulls eye.

Experts at the TickEncounter Resource Center at the University of Rhode Island said they often get asked this question. But, ticks don’t fall from trees and bite you. Because ticks are so small and prone to drying out, they like to stay close to the ground in the leaves or low brush. They usually will not climb brush much higher than knee or thigh height where they can hook onto animals and people who are walking through wooded or grassy areas. They often climb on a person’s legs first. Then they crawl up the body to find a place to bite.

Chances are, since they are attracted to carbon dioxide, they are hightailing up the body toward where the source of carbon dioxide is, your nose which is attached to the head. (in most cases)