Ticks

bédé

15 attacks this year.  None after the recent heavy rains.

bédé

I was not able to edit the new discussion starter.

I now always wear long trousers in the garden and spray myself with a DEET- containing repellent.  It is most unpleasant.  To avoid beathing the fumes, I apply the repellent outside whilst holding my breath.

My wiife is skilled at removing the beasts, having practiced on our dog.  I am skilled at spotting them early.

We have roe deer that visit the garden (that is a separate problem.). I have (not yet) contracted Lyme Disease.

Any helful ideas?

steephill

I removed tick number 63 this morning, it has been my worst year ever for ticks. DEET doesn't work for ticks - Permethrin is what you need. You can spray it on or soak clothes.

bédé

Steephill  Thank you, I will investigate Permethrin, which I think is in some of my insecticide spays.  I was prescribe permethin by my doctor for some mange mites.  I though I got them from my dog, his vet said he probably got them from me.

My dog was low with long ears.  I think he hoovered up all the ticks and so protected me.  Now he is no longer here the problem has started.  I'm offering that as an interesting story, but possibly a cure.

By the way, what do dog flea and tick repellents use?  According to the same vet, the tick part is not a repellent but a tick poison the enters the blood stream. The tick has to bite before it is killed.  Not so sure I would want to use that.

tui34

Hi.  I mentioned this handy hint on a previous thread about ticks.  Try winding strong tape (or double-sided if you have it) with the sticky side out, at the base of your trousers when in the garden - then count the ticks!  Good luck.

Fire

This is a recent thread about ticks

Fairygirl

And don't do the Vaseline method either  
I'm fortunate that I've never been bitten, but it's why I never wear shorts out on the hills. Not taking the chance. I've never had cleg bites either, despite working with horse for donkeys' years, and the infamous 'Scottish midge' also tend to leave me alone. Lucky me! 
My BIL has been bitten and has had Lyme's. He often worked 'in the field' through his job, and still regularly does some work at the Rowardennan Field Station, so could still be in the firing line, but fortunately, he was fine on that occasion and has manged to avoid any problem since. 

RoddersUK

I had a tick in me as a kid, not been bit as an adult yet.
Cut some ornamental grass, then found a deer tick crawling up my arm. We'd had hedgehogs and possibly badgers in the garden.
Cat had about 8 in a week in June, so we ended up getting a decent collar, which seems to have cured it. We had one on the bed from him, not good!
I didn't sleep properly after that for a few days lol, I absolutely hate the things.
There's ticks in the grass out the front where the kids play, a couple have been bitten.