Big chance the flu will be especially bad this year

[Red Squirrel]

I heard we have ticks here now but have not heard of too many incidents so I'm hoping it may not be as bad as I originally thought. I'm still diligent about avoiding any vegetation from touching me when I'm in the woods though. Wearing pants and long sleeves when it's 20C+ out is not exactly realistic and still won't be 100% safe anyway. There is nothing worse then overheating in long pants or sleeves, just can't cool off and it's super miserable. I worry mostly about them ending up in my beard or hair and not going to start covering that too. Good luck even finding that or getting rid of it at that point. Even worse once they start laying eggs. Be worse than lice.

I've found that this time of year if you get a day where it does not rain, makes for a good time to do work in the bush though and covering up is also more realistic, not as hot and less bugs too.

 

[Pohemi]

It's not that hard to keep ticks at bay, with one of the big ones: using deet, followed by pyrethrin-treated clothing (you can even buy a spray bottle to treat your outdoor clothes). Also, sticking to clear trails can also help.

I had some Ex-Officio 'Bug-Off' clothing and bandanas that were pre-treated with that, but yeah the stuff is great, especially to use on lighter weight summer clothing.

Wear pants if going trailblazing through the woods, brush, tall grass, etc. I use to pick up WAY more hitchhikers walking through tall prairie type grass than I ever have walking/camping in the woods anywhere. Wear long socks and tuck your pant legs into them. Get some khakis/chinos if you need lighter weight pants than denim or duck canvas.

 

[Captante]

It's not that hard to keep ticks at bay, with one of the big ones: using deet, followed by pyrethrin-treated clothing (you can even buy a spray bottle to treat your outdoor clothes). Also, sticking to clear trails can also help.

I've hiked plenty in NE and never been bit by a tick. Found a few on our dog at times, but she's a dog - low to the ground and loves to rub up on the brush (and that's why we give her monthly nexgard).


My spouse got bitten (but no tic ever found) in the summer and had a characteristic rash. Treating with a course of doxycycline cleared it right up.

Glad to hear she's okay!

My dad was able to get it treated every time he got it but the potency of the required antibiotics to kill it and the duration they needed to be taken for increased quite a bit each time. The last round took months and included doses via IV.

Scary thing about Lyme disease is that MANY people get it and never find out until years later when serious long-term side effects kick in.