My Dad once bought some Guinea Hens in hopes that they would eat the ticks in his yard. He swears that the the hens failed to digest the ticks and that they shat the ticks out alive. Don't know if that is true or not....
Have ticks always been a problem?
- Thread starter Trailhead00
- Start date
Yeah, they're out. I got into a batch last Monday night in Wharton. It almost takes the fun out of it; next time I'll be better prepared.
Bill
Speaking of Florida ticks, are there loads of deer ticks down there Furball?
I'm moving down there on June 9th and hope to do a little hiking if possible.
I was out in the woods on Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, and no ticks. This morning I got one on me while driving to work! I got to work and felt it crawling on me. He must have gotten on me at some point this weekend and dropped off in my truck.
Jay, I moved here from Florida. The ticks are larger and much easier to see than the little ones here. I never had a problem with them there at all. But the yellow flies, deer flies, sand flies and mosquitos will cart your hiney off. Also, there are several venomous snakes, alligators, and depending on how far south you go.....iguanas, pythons and other exotics that have been dumped and multiplied. Since Florida is tropical, I guess you expected that.
Probably the most scariest creatures in Florida would be Governor Charlie Crist and the palmetto bugs. LOL!
Ticks in FL
I have never seen Deer Ticks here, just Wood Ticks. There are a billion different kinds of insects here. I especially love the dragon flies and butterflies---never saw so many in my life! Camping, for me, is totally OUT this time of year here. Dec. to Feb. are the best months--Glorious! Florida is just ALIVE with all kinds of life! If you plan to hike you will need to take along: a gallon of DEET and 5 gallons of H20! LOL! Go to a State Park where there is a Spring, then, when you're done sweating all of your bodies water and electrolytes, and donating most of your blood, you can go swimming in the 73 degree Spring.
I have never seen Deer Ticks here, just Wood Ticks. There are a billion different kinds of insects here. I especially love the dragon flies and butterflies---never saw so many in my life! Camping, for me, is totally OUT this time of year here. Dec. to Feb. are the best months--Glorious! Florida is just ALIVE with all kinds of life! If you plan to hike you will need to take along: a gallon of DEET and 5 gallons of H20! LOL! Go to a State Park where there is a Spring, then, when you're done sweating all of your bodies water and electrolytes, and donating most of your blood, you can go swimming in the 73 degree Spring.
Thanks for the info furball. I don't see myself doing too many long hikes down there this summer but maybe after a better chance to acclimate over the winter I'll be able to cover some distances next spring.
We camped alot in the summer back in the 80's when we were kids and always got tons of chiggers and ticks. I remember my legs being so covered in chigger bites that the sheets would be bloody in the morning from scratching all night. I remember one hike down hampton road in August when the flies were so bad that we ran about a mile with heavy packs and a five gallon water jug. We were so fly bit , it was hard to find a spot that was not bit. I don't ever remember a time when the bugs were not bad in the summer.
Here is a map of the distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus, the "deer tick".
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/tickmap.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/tickmap.htm
Sorry Star, I somehow missed your post.
I'm not looking forward to dealing with bugs all year round but I figure my odds of getting bitten are half of what most peoples are. Hopefully, if I'm surprised by a venomous snake, it will take it's warning strike at my bolt on leg. Should be interesting. Thanks Star.
I agree with Jeff that smooth rubber hip waders are very effective against the stem of ticks and chiggers while out in the wilds. For being such a big, brawny guy, I dont mind snakes at all but will admit a strong adversion to ticks (donno, they just creep me out). So yeah, even in my deepest wood adevntures, I've found a good pair of hippers covered in deet keep the little b*stards at bay very well, which is a good thing.
Well, here's looking towards my first outing in the pines. I've been all over the woods and hollows of Mass, and now it's time to hike in the infamous NJ pine barrens!! Actually very much looking forward to that.
-Bill-
You're very welcome, Jeff. I'm here if you need me! Let me know if I can help. I spent the majority of my life in Florida from one end of the State to the other. Good luck with your move and have a safe trip.
Hmmm!
How do you like that, I'll be! I have never seen a deer tick here in FL, but your map shows otherwise. I go protected either way, it just makes sense. Good info, Sue! Thanks!
How do you like that, I'll be! I have never seen a deer tick here in FL, but your map shows otherwise. I go protected either way, it just makes sense. Good info, Sue! Thanks!
You are quite welcome. And FYI, deer ticks are not the only ticks to avoid. All of them are capable of carrying some icky disease, so it's a good idea to use repellent no matter where you go! Lyme disease is just the tip of the iceberg and if I had to pick one to get, I'd probably pick that. There is also Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, etc. None of these are good. If a tick bites you and you think you can relax because it's not a black legged tick, think again.
Sorry about the scare tactics, but that's just the way it is!
I was getting dressed this morning and scratched my back and felt something. I looked on my hand and it was a swollen tick that appeared dead, but it fell off and hit the carpet before I could really tell. I looked for a while but could not find it.
Guy
Guy