Tick already?

Found 3 deer ticks already, two from Devil's Lake and one at the Hollow. I am a tick magnet, but I was super surprised to see these little buggers this early, thought I'd spread the word. Trust me Lymes is a bitch, check regularly.

Yikes..

Josh.. I know people should check themselves for all kinds of ticks no matter where they have been but I am wondering if you were grubb'n around in the brush at DL and not just going up and down the CCC trail.

I was at Token Creek county park running yesterday and pull a few off me too... there were tons of deer tracks in the woods there..

They are out hard in NE this year already... I'm probably a bit superstitious but I've found that the blue Carhartt's seem to never get ticks where jeans and kakie/climbing pants get covered.

Climbing in MW Montana this week, my buddy noticed a tick on his arm, we thought that was a little strange. Then, last night i found a tick in MY BED! I have showered and checked for ticks before going to bed, the only possible conclusion I have come to is it crawled out of my laundry basket into my bed. LAME.

They are active in St. Vrain Canyon in Colorado, which shouldn't be a big surprise.

Guy H. wrote:They are active in St. Vrain Canyon in Colorado, which shouldn't be a big surprise.

I was a little suprised they are active already, but it's been warm. I had one on my scalp when I cam home friday, and my wife found one in the clothes I left outside. Sneaky little bastards!

i've climbed in the SSV many times in the spring, and every single time we found ticks on us at the end of the day. one of the times we didn't find any on us when we did our search at the car. we started celebrating a little early - i had to dig one out of my wife's head when we got home that evening.

Anyone have advice on good repellent? Does DEET actually work for ticks?

Adam B wrote:Anyone have advice on good repellent? Does DEET actually work for ticks?

Not aware of any shampoo that carries a DEET value.!/;-)

Full strength DEET which is hard to find anymore, was pretty good at keeping them away in the past. Most I see now is about 40% DEET available. Wonder if it is any good against ticks.

Burt Lindquist wrote:Yikes.. Josh.. I know people should check themselves for all kinds of ticks no matter where they have been but I am wondering if you were grubb'n around in the brush at DL and not just going up and down the CCC trail. I was at Token Creek county park running yesterday and pull a few off me too... there were tons of deer tracks in the woods there..

I definitely wasn't just hanging around on the CCC trail. Who on earth does that?

Note to self: Invest immediately in DEET stock and buy up as much DEET filled product as you can while it lasts.

Josh... I wasn't trying to make you sound lame and like a gumby.. I was just thinking that folks like me who only went up and down the CCC trail to get up and down from East Rampart probably were not tick bait. But your warning is taken seriously.... I know what the ramnifications of having contracted a Lyme's agent infection...

Burt Lindquist wrote:Josh... I wasn't trying to make you sound lame and like a gumby.. I was just thinking that folks like me who only went up and down the CCC trail to get up and down from East Rampart probably were not tick bait. But your warning is taken seriously.... I know what the ramnifications of having contracted a Lyme's agent infection...

I was being flippant, no worries. Definitely be careful out there folks. I've had lymes twice, partial facial paralysis is nothing to joke about.

Josh... I ain't worried a bit...

Did you go awhile before you were diagnosed with the Lymes?

I was lucky (but still somewhat frustrated) and got treated fairly quickly for it. I think I have had some fairly significant long term issues with the infection (ARTHRITUS) but not real sure about that...

Burt Lindquist wrote:Josh... I ain't worried a bit... Did you go awhile before you were diagnosed with the Lymes? I was lucky (but still somewhat frustrated) and got treated fairly quickly for it. I think I have had some fairly significant long term issues with the infection (ARTHRITUS) but not real sure about that...

The first time I got it treated quickly. The second time I was in the Boundary Waters for a month or so, couldn't get treatment for a while and it got pretty nasty. I definitely agree on the long term issues, I'm just now getting over the fatigue, and that was two and a half years ago.

Woodchuck ATC wrote:Note to self: Invest immediately in DEET stock and buy up as much DEET filled product as you can while it lasts.

High concentration Deet all the way up to 98% is no longer hard to find, go to an outdoor store as most will have it. It is now made again in that high of a concentration.

Better though for ticks will be permethrin. Again at outdoor stores you can find it. Apply directly to clothes liberally in spray form, let dry till clothes no longer look moist and in a well ventilated area. Lasts up to 2 weeks. kills ticks on contact, its been out a while but wasn't widely distributed and sold until probably last year. dont apply directly to skin.

its the shit. you can pretty much just apply to pants if you're not in a super densely vegetated area, and ticks no more.

Had one on my shirt at the Quarry Wall (golden, co) on Sunday. First time ever for me there!

Funny to see this thread now. I pulled a tick off my ass last night. Scary, since I know I must have picked it up on Sunday (24+ hours). Got it in southern KY near Cumberland.

As a friendly reminder, most of the folk/paint remedies are not recommended (do not cover it with nail polish or petroleum jelly). Here is the CDC's page on tick removal:

cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_ti…

I had always been told to cover them so they pull out. Research shows that these methods may increase the risk of infection as it stimulates the tick to exchange fluids (see: aafp.org/afp/2002/0815/p643… ).

Be safe out there.

Went bouldering last night... walked through a thick 10x15 patch of small trees... looked down once I was through and my legs were CRAWLING with ticks... I picked 8 off me...sketchy!!!

Morgan Patterson wrote:Went bouldering last night... walked through a thick 10x15 patch of small trees... looked down once I was through and my legs were CRAWLING with ticks... I picked 8 off me...sketchy!!!

holy shit, didnt get any at chatfield last sunday