What to do about ticks?

If you process wood/scrounge in the northeast, you've probably had to deal with ticks/lyme disease concerns. I just started heating with wood when I moved out of the city, and all my previous woods experience was outside of tick country, so I'm trying to figure out the best way to deal with these suckers. (I've pulled three deer tick nymphs off me so far this season.)

Short of avoiding the woods during high tick season (which I understand to be late spring/early summer where I am), what do you all do about this? I know there's lots of members of this forum in places like CT, NJ, MA, NY. I'd be grateful for anyone's input.

I recently invested in a pair of work pants and work shirt from Insect Shield, which come pre-treated with Permethrin. Apparently that chemical is effective against ticks as well as mosquitoes and other bugs, and the treatment should last 70 washes (essentially the life of the garment). I haven't had much experience with them yet, but will let you all know what I find with these. Anyone have any experience with Permethrin, or any other solutions they prefer?

Thanks in advance.

KenLockett said:

Deal with them constantly in my neck of the woods. It is inevitable that you are going to get bit. My advice, long work pants with tall boots and socks and white or light colored shirts that you can easily spot the ticks on. Most importantly, have your better half check you EVERY evening that you are in the woods from head to toe and any other places if you know what I mean. Awareness is the best prevention in this case IMO. Interestingly enough, I have found few ticks on me this season and I am in the woods constantly. Also, the suckers can be teeny tiny. Gotta keep a close eye out for them. Good luck and I will be interested to hear what other members have to say.

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I hear you on the tick checks. Two of the three that bit me were on my back, and I never would have found them had I not asked my wife to check my back. It's unbelievable how small the nymphs can be. We love the outdoors and we've got toddlers as well, so tick checks are just going to be a way of life. I guess we really have to worry about the ones we DON'T find.

Right now I'm using regular hiking boots, but might have to invest in a pair of taller boots like you suggest. Thanks.

Batman said:

There are kits available to treat any garment with permethrin. Simply soak the clothes in a ziplock bag for the prescribed amount of time and then air dry. Treatment is effective for around 25 washings if I recall. I'd find a link for you but I'm pounding this out on a kindle, and posting links is cumbersome. Use your google fu.

BE ADVISED that permethrin is extremely toxic to cats. That's why I haven't dabbled with it yet. Maybe someday I can be cat free...

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Thanks, Batman. I have a cat so I keep my permethrin outfit in a locker in the garage. I'm also counting the days until cat freedom, but it'll probably be years, unfortunately. On the one hand, the cat kills lots of small rodents that are tick vectors. On the other hand, the cat comes in and out of the house and I cringe to think of it bringing in ticks. Maybe the permethrin can solve my cat AND tick problems...

I found the kits you mentioned (appear to all be made by "Sawyer"), but it says it is only good for 6 weeks or 6 washings. That's still pretty good, and it's cheaper than sending your clothes to Insect Shield to have them treated. Amazon also sells a spray kit (rather than a soaking kit), so I might check that out too. I'm pasting links here if anyone is interested.

http://www.chinookmed.com/cgi-bin/i...ection/-Sawyer-Permethrin-Soak-Treatment-Kit-

http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Produc...p/B001ANQVYU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

KpR said:

I second strongly the daily, thorough, tick checks. It usually takes 24-36 hours of a deer tick being embedded to transmit enough of the Lyme Disease bacteria (borrelia burgdorferi) to infect the average adult human. Even if you get bit during the day, pulling that sucker out sooner rather than later, and cleaning the bite site is in your favor.

If you think a deer tick has been engorged for close to 24 hours or more, a single dose of 200 mg Doxycycline antibiotic within 72 hours of pulling the tick out has also shown to be pretty darn effective at preventing the development of Lyme (article). I've downed one dose so far this summer--but I blame the wild blackberry patches more than the woodlot.

The risk of contracting Babesiosis though, is a whole different story...

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I never really considered Babesiosis, but will keep an eye out for those symptoms as well. I did have one engorged tick and also did the 200 mg doxycycline within 72 hours of removal, so it seems like that's a pretty accepted approach for that scenario.

Chimney Smoke said:

One observation I have made is regarding the type of footwear. When wearing leather boots I've been in areas and constantly pulled ticks ff my pants. When i the same areas with rubber/neoprene boots and my pants tucked in I've had no ticks on me. I don't know if it's the smell or texture, but they seem to not be able to climb up the boots.

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I never would have thought of that. Thanks for the tip.