Tick and West Nile Warning for Black Hills

[fungirl]

The Black Hills National Forest currently has warnings in place for mosquitoes carrying West Nile and ticks; come prepared!  

While 17 tick species are found in South Dakota, the most common is the American dog tick, the chief carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Tick species transmit various viral and bacterial forms. Following the tips below will help people protect themselves and their pets from tick exposure.

    *  Avoid tall grassy or shrubby areas, as ticks do not jump but wait on vegetation for an animal or human to brush against them.
    * Since avoiding tall grassy or shrubby areas is not always practical, here are other ideas for tick protection:
          o Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. Consider putting rubber bands around your wrists on the outside of your shirt and blouse your pants into your socks or boots.
          o Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
          o Wear light-colored clothing to help locate ticks before they attach.
          o Visually check for ticks upon returning from wooded or tall grassy areas.
          o Use a repellent containing DEET to help protect against ticks. Use recommended repellents for pets, including collars containing amitraz.

Mosquitoes:

# Use a repellent containing DEET when outdoors. Be sure to follow application directions carefully.
# Minimize time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn.
# Wear socks, shoes, and long-sleeved shirts and pants when outdoors for long periods, especially when mosquitoes are most active
# Avoid shady, bushy areas where mosquitoes like to rest and stagnant water.

[ST1100Rider]

This reminds me of the SNL skit "Debbie Downer" by Rachel Dratch on SNL.



In your best nasal voice: Wauy wauuuuyyyy

[dm_gsxr]

The problem is that I found a tick on my back this morning. No idea where it came from. She was all *eww* since she had to remove it. She did some reading on line to see what potential diseases there were here in Colorado. Plus she's a volunteer at the Forest Service so she's more aware as well

Carl

[Mac]

So should FJRs not go because of all the ticks?

[ST1100Rider]

Point taken.  In a related story, on one of the local Denver news stations they had a news story tonight about this year being a big year for mosquitoes.  I'm sure SD will be similar.

[forester]

Ticks suck!  I had one attached between my thigh and calf (underside of the knee) in February - got that one in Tennessee.

There are a LOT more of those critters in Arkansas (most I've ever seen down there).

We used to have tick killing contests at the DNR when I worked there in the forest management division.  

Mosquitoes are our problem.  I've probably already had West Nile for several years now - so many of those sons of bitches here they will carry you off in some places.

DM-GSXR - make sure you identify that tick properly - not all are created equally and only certain species carry certain diseases, etc...

Remember for those tick infested places: Treat your clothes (NOT your skin) with permanone!!!  Forget deet, that shit doesn't work for the hairy places - go to bugshirt.com and order their elite shirt  

[dm_gsxr]

She's got it in a baggie and has been researching on line. I have no concerns that she'll research the hell out of it.

Carl

[WarER4X]

I believe Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (aka Lime Disease) is carried by the deer tick rather than the common brown dog tick.  Deer ticks are way smaller than dog ticks, so they're much less noticeable if you get one on you.

Mosquitoes around here (Ohio) have been very, very light so far, this year because we had some pretty cold weather late into Spring and now we're way behind on rain, so there aren't many places for the mosquitoes to multiply.

-SR-

[bizarro]

So should FJRs not go because of all the ticks?

*gggggrrrrrrroooooooaaaaaaannnnnnnn*

Slaps forehead.