Ticks!!!

kile · Apr 27, 2003

I was out in the country the other day with my dog screwing around in the woods, thinking about camping out and spending the night. I started to build a little lean to, and then I noticed a few ticks on my dog, I started to pick them off, and then I noticed I had quite a few on me. My girlfriend started to freak out, anyway I had about 30 or more ticks on me, about the same number on my dog, and my girlfriend wasn't far behind. I was only in the woods for about 15 minutes, I decided not to stay out there because I figured by morning I would have about 1000 ticks feeding on me. How do you keep ticks away? Does normal bug spray work? Is there anything natural you can use to keep them away. I have spent a lot of time in the area I was at, and before this I could count the number of ticks I have had crawling on me on one hand. What do you think happened?
Kyle Fuglesten
p.s. I am a city boy, so if this seems stupid let me know.

FEATHERSTONE · Apr 27, 2003

Ive had a few problems with ticks,They suck,I freekin hate em.
I use DEET to keep the suckers off.I also make sure I keep my pants tucked in my boots and my shirt tucked in my pants.

Clydetz · Apr 27, 2003

Yikes! That seems like a huge amount of ticks in such a short time! You must have stumbled into the secret breeding grounds of the un-holy tick!

I would think that this is too early in the season for there to be such an accumulation. Are you sure they were ticks? No need to send any in my direction - I'll be seeing 'em on the dog soon enough!

pict · Apr 27, 2003

I also use DEET but I have a system for putting it on. I cover my boots and exterior pant legs, feet and socks and the outside of my socks with a liberal dose of DEET. I then loosen my pants and make sure to cover the area under my belt.

Down here we ahve a great many free ranging cattle in the bush and where ever you have cattle you have a tick infestation. I make sure I'm wearing light colored tan pants. That way I can see the ticks as they climb on board and know when I'm getting into them. Ticks are funny, one area may be free of them and the next minute you're into a situation like you described. At least we don't have lyme disease down here. Mac

Scott Free · Apr 27, 2003

I rarely ever get ticks where I live. A hundred miles to the South and they seem to be everywhere. My strategy is a bit different, as long as the weather, terrain and brush permit. I wear shorts and sandals. The ticks like to go for a dard place before biting in. I try to stay out of brush and check my legs regularly. I almost always have time to pick them off before they get attached. This doesn't work in most situations, of course.

Scott

kayaker · Apr 27, 2003

Permethrin. It is available in the camping/outdoor Walmart for about $5 a can. You DO NOT spray it on your skin. It crosses tissue barriers and is not recommended for skin applications.

Spray it on clothing, socks, shoes, and tent openings. The dose lasts about 2 weeks and it will go through a couple washings. Let it dry before you use the clothes or tent. Once it is dry it poses no danger to us. It is a pesticide and very effective against ticks.

If you are in an area that you know has ticks tuck your pants inside your boots, keep your shirt tucked in, and wear a permethrin sprayed hat.

Continue to use DEET on exposed skin areas paying close attention to hair line areas. I have used this method for years and it does work. I really like that I can spray permethrin on my tent openings before I go out and as long as I am not our more than 2 weeks I don't have to reapply.

beyondmyken · Apr 28, 2003

DEET in various strengths will work. 100% DEET is oily so best used on clothing but there are formulations (ie Cutters) that can be lower %. Be sure to spray your socks, pants cuffs, waist, neck/collar. Treat your dog with stuff from the vet, you rub it in their skin behind the neck, good for a couple of months and kills the buggers after they bite the dog. Pewrmethrin works too and is odorless. It is actually a kill on contact insecticide, not a repellant so is more satisfying to me with ticks

The above is also good preventative for chiggars.

beezaur · Apr 29, 2003

I don't get bothered by ticks, and I don't know why. My wife and my dog both get them pretty easily when they are out with me.

I eat a lot of spicy ethnic-type food full of all manner of herbs, garlic, onions, peppers, and sauces. Oriental, Italian, Mexican, you name it. Plant chemicals permeate the body and may be driving my ticks away. I don't get mosquitos too bad either. My wife and dog both like pretty plain food by comparison.

Some people give their dogs garlic to drive away fleas. It seems to work to some extent.

You have to be careful about chemicals on pets. Some stuff in the stores that claims to be veterinarian recommended will kill your cat if it so much as brushes against a treated dog. products for people may or may not have the same kind of effect on pets. Vet-prescribed products like Revolution are really good, and worth the trip to the vet so you don't get that nasty stuff at PetSmart etc. The good stuff will keep away pretty much all manner of bugs and some will prevent heart worms (a truly disgusting way to die).

Scott

phatch · Apr 30, 2003

I've never had tick problems either. But mosquitos swarm me even when no one else has seen one in weeks.

Phil

rep · May 1, 2003

Sounds like another big tick year has come, thanks for the warning. Wear light colored nylon clothes; the ticks have a hard time keeping hold and you can see them better. Keep your pants tucked into your socks, and have your partner check you often (and vice-versa). Keep an eye on the ends of vegetation and you can actually see the evil buggers with their disgusting little legs stuck out to grab onto you.
It also works very well to have someone you don't care about go in front on the trail.

FEATHERSTONE · May 1, 2003

rep,
your last statement made me lmao,cause ive been there,not the guy in the front, but a guy who was invited on a hike with me and a fellow buddy.

I was in front with the machete and all I could hear was this guy keep saying HURRY UP, UP THERE.So I saw a nice long stretch of poision ivy,This guy was wearing shorts at the time,SO I said allright smart ass you take the lead,Well needless to say this guy didnt chop at anything below the waist hehehehehe sucker.

My buddy later told me that his friend was going nuts cause the ivy got all over his legs and spread to his ass crack LMAO.

Ahhhh that was a good day.

hso · May 2, 2003

I have our field crews use this - Coulston's Original Formula DURANONtm Tick Repellent, 6 oz. Aerosol Spray. Applied to clothing and with pants legs taped off we have excellent results. It's a permithren product so it can't go onto skin, but works well on clothing.