Posted on 06/21/2017 3:20:52 PM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt
MARSHFIELD, Vt. (AP) — Tick numbers are on the rise across New England, raising the prospect of an increase in Lyme and other diseases associated with the blood suckers.
Much of the region got a respite last year as the drought took a toll on ticks, whose numbers drop as the humidity falls below 85 percent.
But the drought is largely gone from the region and ticks are taking advantage.
Residents in Maine are complaining they are finding as many as 30 ticks at a time on their clothes,
and public health officials in Vermont are reporting an above-average rate of emergency room visits for tick bites in the last three weeks.
Alan Eaton, a tick expert with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension,
said the high numbers he has seen in New Hampshire are in line with what was expected, considering the high moisture levels and short dry periods.
"It's a really bad year," Eaton said.
(Excerpt) Read more at fox5ny.com ...
A blood sucker on a blood sucker.
Thanks!
I have never considered having a planter by the door but it’s a wonderful suggestion.
I have Lavender and lemon verbena in the herb garden. Don’t have citronella grass but have lemon geranium which is supposed to repel mosquitoes.
I’ll have to hunt for the holy basil. Maybe get seeds. I’ve never seen it locally in nurseries.
We have a few cats, but they are all outdoors cats. “Barn cats”. My wife is allergic to cats, thank God.
I believe Tyrethrin is the “natural” version of Permathrin.
The thing I love about permathrin is that it is not a repellent. Rather, it is a KILLER. So, if a tick or chigger gets on my clothing and somehow makes it to my skin, it doesn’t matter. It will be pining for the fjords soon. :)
No kidding - friends who hunt in Vermont report that moose have been found killed by ticks this year - covered by thousands of them.
When its warm and wet like this, the ticks can get up high on vegetation to attach themselves to unsuspecting hosts. (Questing)
The ticks are in full force because the deer are back. Take out the deer, and the ticks are gone.
Not a difficult thing to do...but it will never get done there.
There may be other sources that do just as well but I ordered the print catalog from this company in Charles City, Virginia and my mom was very happy with the plants she’s received. Not especially cheap, especially on the native species, but there aren’t too many places to get them. The link is to their list of insect repellent plants that they have in their nursery that they will sell and ship to you:
http://www.thegrowers-exchange.com/Herb_Plants_Insects_Hate_s/331.htm
>>> Nasty blood sucking parasites that spread misery. Almost as bad as Massachusetts politicians. <<<
You just described every democrat - anywhere.
My daughter lives in central Maine and has mentioned the up tick in ticks. Sorry for the pun. Old timers keep chickens in their yards as the hens eat the ticks and reduces the numbers.
I went down the list of plants that are toxic to dogs and lemon verbena as well as citronella grass (lemongrass) are on it. I’ve used it myself on my dogs to no ill effect, however don’t let them eat it.
My dogs bring them in and my husband had, I think it was 8 of them on him after he walked across the lawn to fill the bird feeder. It’s been a very bad year.
" With the explosion in tick numbers in the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in tick-related diseases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Lyme disease cases has tripled to about 30,000 cases nationwide annually.
Cases of anaplasmosis, which can cause fever, headache, chills and muscle aches, have also risen steadily.
Two years ago, Vermont had the highest rate of reported Lyme disease cases nationwide.
How can people limit their exposure to ticks? According to the Vermont Health Department, people should avoid wooded, bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, apply a tick repellent with at least 30 percent DEET and check their body daily for ticks."
www.fox29.com/health/252843043-story
Powasson / Powassan Virus can be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes from a tick bite; "symptoms for most people include flu-like illness,
but it can cause seizures, and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.
According to Dr. Mike, 10% of people who get the virus die, and 50% suffer from permanent memory loss and neurological problems."
See Post #18, #22 & #28 for herbal and garden grown suggested plants which repell ticks
See Post # 24 for chemical insecticide suggested control agent
Pet owners please read the entire postings for informtion as some natural and some chemical control agents can be deadly to pets.
A couple of things:
Your article points out the reason I specifically mentioned lyme disease taking 24 hours.
Second, DEET is a repellent. Permathrin is an insecticide. It kills them.
I’ve come out of the woods with ticks on me when using DEET. With permathrin on my clothing, I can be more confident that even if they do somehow get around my clothing, they are as good as dead, with or without DEET.
BTW, I own 32 acres of woods and fields. I spend a lot of time in and around that stuff with a chain saw, weed-eater, etc. The good news is that I am in kentucky. I may have ticks, but they are much less “poisonous” here.
The really annoying ones are the ones about the size of the head of a pin.
I hate the chiggers more.
BTW, I’m 63. I’m on the backside of life. If I got one of these diseases it would not be all that catastrophic. If I was in my 20’s I might move back to Seattle.
Agreed - most people who are unaware of Lyme Disease think that the "bulls-eye" rash is the only indicator of Lyme infection ;
whereas the Bulls-eye" rash only occurs in about 25% of the cases as evidence of infection.
Mr. Douglas :" Second, DEET is a repellent.
Permathrin is an insecticide. It kills them."
Right ! I got that, and that is why I suggested that your post be emphasized
and why the emphasis and caution on pet care.
Even moreso, I like your attitude of life and your thoughts regarding ticks and chiggers - kill'em !
Thanks for clarifying. Frankly, it’s challenging to know where people are coming from in a pure posting environment. :-)
Horrible.
I had one feasting on my back. Went to my GP and they gave a dosage of doxycycline 200 mg. Just one dosage. Apparently, this is what they do now if treatment is given within 72 hours.
Awful!!
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