Ticks

[Seth]

Ticks have suddenly become a huge problem around here - and surprise surprise, I found one on me about 30 minutes ago. Luckily I was able to pull it off via my fingers, suggesting it hadn't latched on.

Anything I should know or be aware of (keeping in mind a mild penchant for hypochondria)? Disgusting little vermin, they are.

[Augustus McCrae]

The old wives tale was that if you didn't get the head and fangs out you would be paralized. My dog has gotten them from going out to our land and I just get some tweezers and get as close to the skin as possible and pull them out. She's still walking so I guess I did it right! Wait till one gets full of blood! They look like little moles!

[Ireneparalegal]

The one thing I heard is that once it latches on, you must grasp it so that when you pull it out, you pull it hard enough so their teeth also come out of your skin. Ewwwww, scary thought. It also causes lime disease in some cases.

[EmoJoe]

my dog gets them a lot, and i got one when i was 6 and had to get a doctor to remove it. they're really common here because we have a crapload of trees.

[Stormtracker TF]

Man, that sounds disturbing. I've never seen one before.

[Brieannas21]

They can carry lyme disease, so I suggest that you buy some 7 dust or any other pesticides and spray or dust your yard. Also spray on some Off or Peppermint soap to keep them off of you while you're out and about.

[Seth]

Like I said, I doubt the one that I found onto me latched on, just given the absolute ease that I removed it with. And given that what I removed was still VERY alive when I removed it, I highly doubt it left anything behiond. Looks like I got lucky?

[Ireneparalegal]

Aren't ticks in certain parts of the country? I live near the beach so I don't know that this is tick area. I guess going up to the mountains might yield some ticks.

[Brieannas21]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Aren't ticks in certain parts of the country? I live near the beach so I don't know that this is tick area. I guess going up to the mountains might yield some ticks.

Ticks can be where ever theres grass and animals.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

Ticks can be where ever theres grass and animals.

YUCK!!!!

[InspectorExstead]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

The one thing I heard is that once it latches on, you must grasp it so that when you pull it out, you pull it hard enough so their teeth also come out of your skin. Ewwwww, scary thought. It also causes lime disease in some cases.

*shudders* that sounds so gross & scary. ugh.

i've never seen ticks but i've hears stories from friends who have gotten them. looks like you were very lucky seth.

[PZelda]

I have heard that if you're having tick issues, Vaseline works. You slap it on the tick and it's supposed to make the tick suffocate to death. Then you can dispose of it.

I can't remember if this applies for the ticks that have burrowed under the skin... I'm gonna have to check on that.

[PlayOn]

i'll never forget we had just built our house in TN and i've always been a country boy (having been born in KY and moved to TN when I was really little) anyway, last year, were out in the yard (me, my mom and step-dad) and mom was loking for ferns (she loves ferns) and we live out in the sticks. i helped her. that night, my legs suddenly itched like crazy. i looked at them and little marks were on my legs. i wigged. i asked my mom what they were and she said a mixture of chigger and tick bites.
HELPFUL HINT: to get rid of them, put nail polish on the bite. it doens't hurt unless the skin is broken (from itching too much) my mom said that's her mom did to her and thats she did to me. worked like a charm. i thought she was crazy. lol. but mama knows best.