Has anyone noticed the ticks seem more abundant this year?

[mass_burner]

http://www.gardentech.com/All-Products/sevin-concentrate-bug-killer/Overview

100+ other pests, wow, that's a lot of collateral damage.

 

[red oak]

Definitely, definitely worse this summer here in Virginia, at least in my area. Went on a hike with the dogs for about an hour and came back with 7 ticks on me. A couple of weeks ago I found one latched onto my arm, the first time that's happened to me since I was a child. One more reason I'm glad I'm not cutting wood this summer.

 

[Applesister]

To pull ticks off you and your animals: www.otom.com My animal Vet had them. Its a small plastic thingy, looks like a claw hammer. You slide it under the tick and twist it between your fingers as you gently pull up and the ticks let go. They come in a package of 2, small and med. Works great. I give the product 5 stars. Made in France sells for ~ $3.00

 

[Ashful]

All of my neighbors complain about ticks, most finding them on their pets or themselves several times per week. I spend just about every waking hour of the weekend, and at least a few weeknights outside in my lawn, and have only found one tick in 3 years. None on my dogs either, and they spend a few hours outdoors most days. The difference between me and my neighbors?

http://www.lebanonturf.com/products/items/2240261/index.aspx

I put this down once per year, usually early June, at a rate of 160-180 lb/acre. I just put it down last weekend. No ticks, no flies, no gnats, and no yellow jackets. I do still have lightening bugs, which is always a pleasant surprise.

My goal in using this product was actually the elimination of a sod worm that was killing about a half acre of lawn each July, and it was effective for that. Discovering it also controlled ticks and gnats was actually secondary, but a good reason to keep using it in successive seasons, IMO.

 

[Ncountry]

They are ridiculous this year. I have had to pull 2 off already. My gf was bitten 2 weeks ago and was diagnosed with Lyme disease and being treated. Luck of the draw I guess I get bitten a few times every year for the last bunch of years and she gets bitten once in her life and gets sick.

 

[Free BTUs]

I read that the extra snow this winter was going to make the ticks worse this spring. The persistent snow cover insulates the ground and more ticks live through the winter even though it was super cold.

 

[Wood Duck]

Here in Central PA they were really thick this spring. They're thinning out now as they always do this time of year. I had to treat the lawn because we were getting ticks walking across the lawn or sitting on the front porch. A light application of Scott's lawn defense or some similar commercial lawn bug killer (I forget which one I bought) did the trick. I don't like to use pesticides for the lawn, but I wasn't going to risk the kids getting Lyme Disease. Or I should say I wasn't going to put the kids at more risk than they already have just living here.

 

[red oak]

Update: been working outside the last 2 days, mostly mowing grass and in the garden. I have found a total of 17 ticks on me in two days! I think I'm going to see if the dog's tick collar will fit me!

 

[Ashful]

Spent all weekend outside, gardening and mowing yesterday, splitting wood today. The older kid was outside most of both days, as well. Not a single tick found on me or the boy, but my wife did find one in the laundry.

On that note, my official score has changed... two ticks in three years. The first was found in the laundry, as well.

 

[billb3]

seem worse here.
I've found several on the back of my hand from both short and long jaunts in the woods behind my house.

 

[BobUrban]

nock on wood but I never see them here in Mid-Michigan(I am always afraid I will jinx myself saying that) There were quite a few in Manitoba this year when I was bear hunting and my bear was covered in them. Once the body started to cool it was a mass exodus and you could grab handfuls as they emerged from the hide. Strange thing is that the bears laying next to mine on the table only had a few?? Must be some bears are tastier than others I guess.

 

[muncybob]

To pull ticks off you and your animals: www.otom.com My animal Vet had them. Its a small plastic thingy, looks like a claw hammer. You slide it under the tick and twist it between your fingers as you gently pull up and the ticks let go. They come in a package of 2, small and med. Works great. I give the product 5 stars. Made in France sells for ~ $3.00

We have the same little tool and it does work better than tweezers. Less stress for the dog too. We switched to the collar our Vet said to get for the dogs and cats...made by Bayer...Sorresto...I think? Anyways, they are expensive but last about 6+ months and seemt to be doing the job. Cats have no fleas or ticks(they are outdoor cats mostly) and while we have taken ticks off the dogs none have imbedded yet.
Our little Jack Russell can't go for walks off the property for awhile...took 9 off him from a short walk in the wooded area the other day.

 

[rideau]

Rubbing alcohol kills ticks. Invert a capful over the tick and hold it there for a minute, then the tick comes off very easily with tweezers.

Both dog and deer tick are bad here this year. I'm sure it is because we had total snow/ice cover from November to May: insulated the forest floor.

 

[velvetfoot]

To pull ticks off you and your animals: www.otom.com My animal Vet had them. Its a small plastic thingy, looks like a claw hammer. You slide it under the tick and twist it between your fingers as you gently pull up and the ticks let go. They come in a package of 2, small and med. Works great. I give the product 5 stars. Made in France sells for ~ $3.00

We currently have a set, and I just ordered a backup; thanks! It was $5.99 w/shipping from the m'fr. but I didn't feel like shopping around.

Years ago I got a series of LymeRix shots that're supposed to prevent the disease. It was discontinued here in the US, but does anyone know if something like it is still available in Europe?

My wife had four so far this year, but she gardens a lot.

 

[gzecc]

Here in NJ they are always a pita. We've all had lyme at least once. Can't wait to get out of this part of the country.

 

[Brewmonster]

I don't know if they are statistically any worse, but, after three years of having none, I've had two deer ticks embedded in me this year. The second now shows the classic bullseye. Doc put me on antibiotics. I asked him why I didn't feel sick and he said it might be residual "immunity" from my first experience of Lyme twenty years ago. Then, my symptoms were truly miserable even before the rash developed, even before I realized I'd been bitten. Gol-darn spirochetes!

 

[Ashful]

Here in NJ they are always a pita. We've all had lyme at least once. Can't wait to get out of this part of the country.

Yeah... why deal with ticks when you can trade that for forrest fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes!

 

[gzecc]

Yeah... why deal with ticks when you can trade that for forrest fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes!

I lost 30 trees with Sandy.

 

[TreePointer]

There seem to be a lot of articles on this issue. The weather this winter and spring apparently have produced a bumper crop of the buggers:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/13/us-usa-ticks-newhampshire-idUSKBN0EO2QB20140613

https://www.google.com/#q=ticks+this+year&tbm=nws