Anyone thinking of exploring PA (and probably the neighboring states) this summer be extra careful with the ticks.

They seem to be especially rampant already this year. My house is in the middle of a field in SE PA and almost every day I am picking them off of myself and my dog... not fun and not cool.

It's going to be a looong summer.

I was on Staten Island a month ago and pulled an imbedded motherfucker from the back of my knee, in the crease. Just hours after coming home that day. Fucker!
I incinerated his sorry ass. Look out!

Last year they were bad as well.... Fuckers!

The 1 mm juveniles are the most dangerous and hardest to find.
Lyme transmission is much more likely from these.
At the end of the day you need to do a head to toe check to prevent Lyme.
Tying off pants to boots helps.

Lyme is nasty, Rocky Mountain Spotted fever is worse and can be fatal.

They're bad in my area (CT) as well, and in RI. Especially out in coastal areas and islands. I had one of the fuckers crawling on my goddamn camera!

My family went to the Delaware water gap recreation area last year and each had almost a dozen ticks on us within a few hours... We left soon after that . We were on trails and everything not even in high grass or anything like that .

Posted by sleeperspirit My family went to the Delaware water gap recreation area last year and each had almost a dozen ticks on us within a few hours... We left soon after that . We were on trails and everything not even in high grass or anything like that .

They go were the prey is. They feed heavy on deer.
They will even drop down from trees.
Slightly better than a rabid raccoon

Texas isn't much better. I pulled 3 off of me a few weeks ago down by the Brazos river near Simonton. I hate ticks more than any other bug around. I never kill insects or spiders but these get my full wrath when I find one!

Ticks are a really serious thing. My dad died last year from babesiosis, delivered by a tick, and none of us had any idea what it was until he was very advanced with it. Healthy, vibrant guy, only 68, gym every other day, gone in a month. Check yourself, and make sure everyone else checks themselves.

Post by ahhntzvilleTicks are a really serious thing. My dad died last year from babesiosis, delivered by a tick, and none of us had any idea what it was until he was very advanced with it. Healthy, vibrant guy, only 68, gym every other day, gone in a month. Check yourself, and make sure everyone else checks themselves.

That really sucks. Sorry for your loss. I will now begin triple checking for these bugs.

Posted by ahhntzville Ticks are a really serious thing. My dad died last year from babesiosis, delivered by a tick, and none of us had any idea what it was until he was very advanced with it. Healthy, vibrant guy, only 68, gym every other day, gone in a month. Check yourself, and make sure everyone else checks themselves.

Sorry to hear that.
How long it take them to diagnose it?

Me and my friend ran into some last year in the Catskills. Nasty little fuckers. We ended up throwing out all the clothes we were wearing that day. I didn't need the damn things following me home.

Posted by TheSwanStation Me and my friend ran into some last year in the Catskills. Nasty little fuckers. We ended up throwing out all the clothes we were wearing that day. I didn't need the damn things following me home.

Put them in a plastic bag and seal it. 20 minutes in a hot drier kills them all.
Deer ticks are very small and they must be found if on your skin or hair. The can be anywhere on you. Many times they feed and fall off with you never being aware of it. You have a 24 hour window to find them, I wouldn't exceed 12 hours though.

The bulls eye rash is a dead indicator that you have Lyme. Antibiotics stat.
If you have Lyme's you may have also contracted more worrisome infections.

If you develop a high fever, rashes, within 1-6 weeks of exposure especially make sure your doctor knows you had ticks on you. RMSF has a high mortality rate if not DXed and treated promptly.

Ehrlichiosis is yet another disease in North America they are known to carry.

The only thing I hate more than ticks are kissing and bed bugs

Posted by ahhntzville Ticks are a really serious thing. My dad died last year from babesiosis, delivered by a tick, and none of us had any idea what it was until he was very advanced with it. Healthy, vibrant guy, only 68, gym every other day, gone in a month. Check yourself, and make sure everyone else checks themselves.

My condolences dude. That's awful.

Posted by blackhawk Put them in a plastic bag and seal it. 20 minutes in a hot drier kills them all. Deer ticks are very small and they must be found if on your skin or hair. The can be anywhere on you. Many times they feed and fall off with you never being aware of it. You have a 24 hour window to find them, I wouldn't exceed 12 hours though. The bulls eye rash is a dead indicator that you have Lyme. Antibiotics stat. If you have Lyme's you may have also contracted more worrisome infections. If you develop a high fever, rashes, within 1-6 weeks of exposure especially make sure your doctor knows you had ticks on you. RMSF has a high mortality rate if not DXed and treated promptly. Ehrlichiosis is yet another disease in North America they are known to carry. The only thing I hate more than ticks are kissing and bed bugs

I've only ever found one deer tick attached to me (was within the 24 hours when I found it luckily). My dad used to be a camp ranger and had Lyme's twice. That can definitely lead to very bad conditions down the road if not caught in time.

Posted by CatAndTie I've only ever found one deer tick attached to me (was within the 24 hours when I found it luckily). My dad used to be a camp ranger and had Lyme's twice. That can definitely lead to very bad conditions down the road if not caught in time.

Lyme can be bad even when treated promptly. I know a 32 yo who suffered permanent lung and nerve damage in his leg. Another 46 yo who suffered a fatal heart attack within two years of the disease.
Some people suffer a autoimmune disease caused by the Lyme bacteria; certain people are genetically more prone to it. If that happens it takes 5-10 years to resolve with possible permanent joint damage.

Untreated a healthy person's body can eradicate the infection over time, but the risks are much higher.

Even if all goes right expect to be sick at least 3 weeks to 2 months. Doxycycline isn't always effective even when used right away. It took a month of doxy, then a month of a month on erythromycin to eradicate it in me.
Expect it to take a few months after that to regain full stamina.
It's a bitch, worse than mono.

My good friend has a paralyzed eye from Lyme .

The most I ever picked off of me was 14. That was a drunken bustle in Byberry's hedgerow in a roundabout wander that brought me to the cement couch for a delousing.

A roach-clip and a lighter disposed of the bastards!

Posted by sleeperspirit My good friend has a paralyzed eye from Lyme .

Was the Lyme's diagnosed and treated within the first month?

Posted by blackhawk Was the Lyme's diagnosed and treated within the first month?

No he was having all sorts of problems I guess and it took them awhile to figure out it was Lyme . They don't seem to take it too seriously around here actually .