You know for such a little creature..it sure does cause a lot of havoc. Growing up in Maine I never knew such things existed. I spent a lot of time hunting and fishing as a child with my father and brother and we never came home with one of these bad boys, I mean bad girls, on any of our persons.
With such a mild winter, at least here on the mid-coast, I'm thinking this spring may just be a record tick season. I guess we'll have to be prepared to tuck our pant legs into our Bean boots early on and when that gets too warm, to slather ourselves down with repellent. And of course lay in a good supply of Frontline for the dogs.
Take a look at this map...
One of those red dots is hovering and smothering our property in Waldo County. I guess it could be worse. We could be living in southern NH, all of Massachusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Or, heaven forbid,
anywhere in Tick Central..New Jersey or Wisconsin.
I don't think they've evolved enough to sprout flippers so I guess I'm still safe in my boat?
It could be very scary out there in the pucka' brush, chasing down some wild brookies this coming season!
I HATE Ticks! I can tell already from this mild winter that they are going to be miserable this Spring . . . sigh!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid of it Rabid..Thanks for the comment
DeleteI pulled a few of me during MA pheasant season last year and I expect this MA Spring turkey hunting too. Can you say DEET?
ReplyDeleteHi Ed, Buy plenty!
DeleteOur poor yellow Lab got Lyme disease from those buggers. When we moved to Maine in 1983, we were glad to learn there were no ticks. On the eastern end of Long Island -- the Hamptons area -- there were tons of ticks. Some people we knew there had Lyme, but it was undiagnosed for years. Bad stuff.
ReplyDeleteHello G.James! It is really nasty and so far I and our pups have been fortunate. I hope our good luck continues..and thanks for the comment.
DeleteI don't seem to have problems when I'm out fishing, but the spring turkey woods are another story.
ReplyDeleteBe cautious my friends.
Thanks for that map! I'm right in the marginal area. But we're constantly picking them off when we're out mushrooming.
ReplyDeleteBrk Trt..Glad to hear you've avoided tick trouble.
DeleteCasey.. Unfortunately we are no longer marginal but prime..keep pickin' and squissin'
Maybe a solution in a years or two....
ReplyDeletehttp://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/04/health/scientists-find-fungus-that-kills-lyme-disease-carrying-ticks/
We can hope!
DeleteI found the first one on me this past summer- which seems like a good record considering the amount of hiking I do. My dread is of black flies - I have an exaggerated response with large welts which itch like crazy for days.
ReplyDeleteHey John..Overall the blackflies do much more of a job on us..it's the whole lyme disease thing that freaks me out..thanks for stopping by..
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