When you thought coronavirus was bad... we have ticks in our region now

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thestrangebrew1

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2011
3,628
471
126
How did you manage to find it? Was it just by chance or some kind of routine inspection?

We were just petting the dog and the wife noticed a bump. I brought her to our bathroom and held her over the sink and used some tweezers to pull it out. Made sure the head was out too. I heard you have to heat the tweezers up first, but we didn't and were still able to get it out. We've since hired a yard guy and haven't had a bunch of weeds/tall grass so it's not really an issue anymore, but every once in awhile we'll just do a quick check.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,981
8,219
126
Maybe, but you can miss them if you have bumps on your skin, or they're in a hard to reach place. A year or two ago, I had an engorged tick on my back. I couldn't reach it, so I didn't feel it til it got big. Had to reach around with a knife and scrape it off.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,457
12,611
126
www.anyf.ca
Wow did you end up going to ER to get it removed properly and was it soon enough to not get lyme? I imagine the head would have stayed stuck in there?
 

JujuFish

Lifer
Feb 3, 2005
11,118
816
136
I fucking hate ticks. Got one a couple summers ago. I was playing badminton in the backyard with my roommate and didn't even think to check myself afterward since I wasn't in tall grass or anything like that.

Because of that, I didn't see it until the next day when I went to shower and it had been clearly feeding on me all night. Ugh. So disgusting.
 

kn51

Senior member
Aug 16, 2012
700
120
106
Oh they are big enough to feel something? That's good to know. Is this something you would feel while showering too?

Oh yeah. Especially when they are "filled up" and petting your dog. I use needle nose pliers to get them out or a good pair of tweezers.

Nasty bastards and you won't know they are on you until you feel them or see them. Then seeing the damn things just makes you cringe.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
38,198
18,669
146
Lots of deer ticks in my neck of the woods. They do have natural predators, but some years seems like it doesnt matter. Tick checking is a fact of life. You feel a tickle, you look. Go near brushy areas, you strip down when you're done and check. The best method is finding them before they latch on.

Ticks hang out in the edges of woodsy areas, along trails, etc ....on the branches or brush, or grass, etc... Keep those areas clear and you'll reduce the chances of getting one. I've found them under my recycle bins, trash cans, but I live in a very brushy area that's hard to keep really groomed

The nymphs are the real problem. They're so small that it's tough to even know they're on you. The adults are a bit bigger (still small), but more likely to brush pieces of hair on you so that you look at that spot.

I had a buddy who's dog contracted Lyme, and that dog was in rough shape for a while. Never the same again, lethargic, had arthritis that she didn't previously have.

I have a cat and we found a fully engorged tick on him. It looked like a kernel of corn, and was very hard. Our vet said to pull it out and not to worry, cats are very unlikely to contract Lyme, something about their immune system. He's seemed fine since.

There are tools made to help extract the tick. Little crow bars that seem to get good reviews.

Still, COVID is worse in ways. It's highly contagious, whereas Lyme disease can be prevented thru habitual checking. And COVID has been highly politicized, so a bigly number of fellow humans DGAF if they transmit it.
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,981
8,219
126
Wow did you end up going to ER to get it removed properly and was it soon enough to not get lyme? I imagine the head would have stayed stuck in there?
Nah, just went on with life. Odds are nothing bad will happen. If I worried about every possible contamination, I'd have to live at the hospital.
 

RLGL

Platinum Member
Jan 8, 2013
2,102
314
126
Ticks are normal here in my part of MN. Go out in the yard it is DEET time and tick check with shower when back in the house.
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
126
Permetherin treat your outdoor clothes. I took a trip to the Amazon some years ago and soaked my clothes ahead of time. Everyone else was using DEET based sprays and still getting eaten alive. My wife and I were almost completely untouched. It was like we had an insect force field. You don't need the expensive premix as long as you can do math. For clothes you want 0.5% concentration. You can buy bottles at 36.4%. just mix it up and go nuts.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,457
12,611
126
www.anyf.ca
Guess that would require getting dedicated "outdoor" clothes as probably don't want to do that to all my every day clothes. Will that work with shorts/tshirts too, like does it create a smell that's strong enough to repel them? Could probably spray my whole house with that stuff too so they don't come in. Good to know that cats are not likely to get lyme though. My cat is an indoor cat but never know if a tick manages to make it in the house. They could end up on my shoes too, though I can probably treat my shoes with that stuff as well. I'll wait it out before I do anything drastic and see if they are actually here this year for sure. I know there was a few isolated cases last year. It's a matter of time though since with climate change all the crazy stuff from down south is slowly making it's way here. I think we're going to see lot of changes as far as enjoyability of the outdoors soon. Years back we also started getting giant hogweed plants. They are flowers that will blind you and cause 3rd degree burns if you touch them. They are big though so at least you can avoid them, but still crazy that we're getting dangerous stuff here now.
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
126
Guess that would require getting dedicated "outdoor" clothes as probably don't want to do that to all my every day clothes. Will that work with shorts/tshirts too, like does it create a smell that's strong enough to repel them? Could probably spray my whole house with that stuff too so they don't come in. Good to know that cats are not likely to get lyme though. My cat is an indoor cat but never know if a tick manages to make it in the house. They could end up on my shoes too, though I can probably treat my shoes with that stuff as well. I'll wait it out before I do anything drastic and see if they are actually here this year for sure. I know there was a few isolated cases last year. It's a matter of time though since with climate change all the crazy stuff from down south is slowly making it's way here. I think we're going to see lot of changes as far as enjoyability of the outdoors soon. Years back we also started getting giant hogweed plants. They are flowers that will blind you and cause 3rd degree burns if you touch them. They are big though so at least you can avoid them, but still crazy that we're getting dangerous stuff here now.

It stinks when you apply it, it doesn't smell much when its dry. I don't know about spraying the whole inside of a house, but people do use it to spray down their yard. Keeps ticks, sprider, ants, and mosquitos at bay. I wouldn't want it on everyday clothes. Limit exposure to chemicals and all, but if you know you'll be going out in the woods it is useful. I'd look up its effect on cats before you spray your yard. Dogs are okay. You can actually spray your dog with it. Cats I think have a reaction. I think its okay once dry, but I'd confirm that on your own.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,457
12,611
126
www.anyf.ca
Oh yeah would just spray the outside of the house and not the inside. Though I already use a product called Cyonora which appears to work on ticks so probably stick to that. It's active ingredient is lambda-Cyhalothrin. Probably due to apply it actually, I try to do it once a year. I once had a severe spider problem.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
9,343
136
Guess that would require getting dedicated "outdoor" clothes as probably don't want to do that to all my every day clothes. Will that work with shorts/tshirts too, like does it create a smell that's strong enough to repel them? Could probably spray my whole house with that stuff too so they don't come in. Good to know that cats are not likely to get lyme though. My cat is an indoor cat but never know if a tick manages to make it in the house. They could end up on my shoes too, though I can probably treat my shoes with that stuff as well. I'll wait it out before I do anything drastic and see if they are actually here this year for sure. I know there was a few isolated cases last year. It's a matter of time though since with climate change all the crazy stuff from down south is slowly making it's way here. I think we're going to see lot of changes as far as enjoyability of the outdoors soon. Years back we also started getting giant hogweed plants. They are flowers that will blind you and cause 3rd degree burns if you touch them. They are big though so at least you can avoid them, but still crazy that we're getting dangerous stuff here now.
Dude, you worry too much!
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,457
12,611
126
www.anyf.ca
Dude, you worry too much!

Not really this is a pretty serious threat that can cause life altering disease quite easily. It might not be a big deal for a city boy but it is a real threat to anyone that wants to be able to enjoy the outdoors such as camping or hiking or walking in trails etc. The precautions required are also quite involved and even then it's not guaranteed to be safe.



Great if you catch it early but the symptoms are so broad it could be mistaken for a cold or flu or something and not get treated fast enough.
 
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lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,981
8,219
126
:^D My life is pretty much spent outside. It's how I make my money, and how I have fun. I've had Lyme disease, and while it sucked, I'm doing alright. I'm more worried about the sun than ticks. Keep yourself covered. The sun will kick your ass harder than ticks or being hot will. Get military clothes. They're lightweight, and if you buy US new issue clothes, they're already treated with permethrin.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,457
12,611
126
www.anyf.ca
I can't tolerate the heat at all. Covering up just makes it worse. I try to avoid being in direct sunlight but if I have to I put on SPF60. I usually work without a shirt on. Sucks that this is no longer going to be safe to do though. But it's unrealistic to wear so much clothing in middle of summer, probably need to keep work in the bush to winter, that's probably more realistic. Ticks are still around in winter but at least I can cover up without being sweaty and feeling miserable.

Lyme basically turns your brain to mush over time. It's a pretty horrible thing.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,981
8,219
126
Keeping covered can keep you cooler. Depends on your weather. If your area is dry, keeping covered will definitely be cooler. If it's humid, maybe not. You have to wear light clothes, both weight and color. No jeans! Wear a brimmed hat. Helps keep the sun out of your eyes, and off your ears. I doubt you hate heat more than me, and I manage in this humid hellhole ;^)
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
9,343
136
Not really this is a pretty serious threat that can cause life altering disease quite easily. It might not be a big deal for a city boy but it is a real threat to anyone that wants to be able to enjoy the outdoors such as camping or hiking or walking in trails etc. The precautions required are also quite involved and even then it's not guaranteed to be safe.



Great if you catch it early but the symptoms are so broad it could be mistaken for a cold or flu or something and not get treated fast enough.
I live in the county and theres ticks carrying lyme disease here. I regularly take the kids camping in the summer and we pretty much live outdoors when we can.

Worry less live more.
 
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Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,457
12,611
126
www.anyf.ca
I live in the county and theres ticks carrying lyme disease here. I regularly take the kids camping in the summer and we pretty much live outdoors when we can.

Worry less live more.

You can't just dismiss a threat that is real. Not worrying does not make the threat go away. This is a life altering disease that will screw you completely over if you catch it and greatly shorten the enjoyable part of your life as it usually ends with having to end up in an old age home and slowly fade away. Maybe you've just gotten lucky.

Lyme basically slowly eats at your joints, brain, heart and other organs. You can even get arthritis from it which will greatly limit your movement and cause you to be in constant pain. It's no cup of tea.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
59,239
13,839
136
I live in the county and theres ticks carrying lyme disease here. I regularly take the kids camping in the summer and we pretty much live outdoors when we can.

Worry less live more.
Remember this is the same guy that thinks the USA is basically a warzone and we're all at risk of being shot daily here.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
9,343
136
You can't just dismiss a threat that is real. Not worrying does not make the threat go away. This is a life altering disease that will screw you completely over if you catch it and greatly shorten the enjoyable part of your life as it usually ends with having to end up in an old age home and slowly fade away. Maybe you've just gotten lucky.

Lyme basically slowly eats at your joints, brain, heart and other organs. You can even get arthritis from it which will greatly limit your movement and cause you to be in constant pain. It's no cup of tea.
I mean I can give you a list of diseases that you have in Canada if you want?
Rabies, west nile fever, hantavirus... youre more likely to get killed by a horny moose or a hangry bear.
You're even more likely to get run over or die in a car crash.
You might slip and fall down the stairs.

Do you spend all day worrying about cancer, or heart disease, or a stroke? Because you are orders of magnitude more likely to die from one of those.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
9,343
136
Remember this is the same guy that thinks the USA is basically a warzone and we're all at risk of being shot daily here.
It just seems a shame to spend all your time worrying about life rather than enjoying it. Its not like you can save it up for later.
 
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Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
68,457
12,611
126
www.anyf.ca
I mean I can give you a list of diseases that you have in Canada if you want?
Rabies, west nile fever, hantavirus... youre more likely to get killed by a horny moose or a hangry bear.
You're even more likely to get run over or die in a car crash.
You might slip and fall down the stairs.

Do you spend all day worrying about cancer, or heart disease, or a stroke? Because you are orders of magnitude more likely to die from one of those.

But those are low risk. Lyme is an immediate danger if you want to spend any time in the bush now that there's ticks. Bears are also big, which means you can see and avoid them ahead of time, and they usually run away from you anyway.

Imagine if every time you drive, if you touch a line, you get into an accident, would you still feel safe driving? You can try to avoid them all you want but eventually you'll miss one and end up touching it.
 
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