Ticks

[Jon and Jen]

Anyone else get disproportionate amounts of ticks? I've always been attractive to bloodsuckers of all types but I rarely come back from a walk without. Really fed up with it. Pulled 7 out of myself today so far.

[bar72]

I was thinking about ticks myself when coming down through heather in shorts and t-shirt last week. Not a single one on me when I reached the forestry track.

[matt_outandabout]

One of our son's is a tick magnet. He gets great more than any of the rest of the family, even on same days out.

[Mal Grey]

On our annual paddling adventures, two of the dozen or so of us get disproportionately more ticks than anybody else, for now apparent reason. They're now probably the most paranoid and cautious of us.

Maybe they recognise fear.

[Sgurr]

I usually get more than husband...which means he is less paranoid than me and less prone to searching for them and more prone to getting the bullseye rash (twice).

[al78]

I've never had an issue with ticks, maybe because I very rarely wear shorts. Midges swarm around me like flies around fresh dung, but no ticks problems (yet).

[gld73]

Never found a tick on me in years of hillwalking ...until this year. Had my first one last month and it took me about 15 mins to get it off so have been a bit paranoid about them since. Did a walk earlier this week with my trousers tucked in to my socks yet found 2 of them attached to my thigh when I got home.

I'm hoping ticks have just been missing human company during lockdown, and will go back to ignoring me next year once things are back to normal ...

[Giant Stoneater]

Am a total tick magnet removed over 30 from myself from one walk over a couple of days then took a trip to docs for antibiotics. Have been spraying my clothing with Life Systems EX4 Anti-Mosquito Spray which contains Permethrin and lasts about 2 weeks on clothing, seems to be working either that or my body chemistry has changed.

[Jon and Jen]

Am a total tick magnet removed over 30 from myself from one walk over a couple of days then took a trip to docs for antibiotics. Have been spraying my clothing with Life Systems EX4 Anti-Mosquito Spray which contains Permethrin and lasts about 2 weeks on clothing, seems to be working either that or my body chemistry has changed.

I will try this. I come out in itchy big spots where they have been. Intolerable itching and then a couple of days of phantom itching where I can feel them everywhere.

[Marty_JG]

I've had a couple, as has the dog. Remember always to use a tick twister tool to remove them. Getting them off ASAP is a good idea, the longer they are attached the more likely the Lyme infection can take hold.

[Jon and Jen]

I've had a couple, as has the dog. Remember always to use a tick twister tool to remove them. Getting them off ASAP is a good idea, the longer they are attached the more likely the Lyme infection can take hold.

I've never managed to get one out with any tick tool. They are still too small when I find them. I use tweezers but quite often burst them.

[mrssanta]

I've had a couple, as has the dog. Remember always to use a tick twister tool to remove them. Getting them off ASAP is a good idea, the longer they are attached the more likely the Lyme infection can take hold.

I've never managed to get one out with any tick tool. They are still too small when I find them. I use tweezers but quite often burst them.

The o'tom tick twister is the best of all the several I have tried. It comes in two sizes and the small size takes the smallest nymphs off. Squeezing them is not a good idea as you can squeeze the Lyme bacteria into you, which is not recommended. They will rarely cause a problem if removed within 24hrs.
I always carry mine with me. You can get them online or from your local vet - the veterinary ones are green but exactly the same as the orange human one
I understand they made the orange version as people were funny about using a veterinary device. Which I think is a bit silly if it works but people eh?

[Tringa]

Good to hear the Tom o Tick works on the nymphs.

Nearly all the ticks I have seen in the last few years have been nymphs and VERY small.

I have a credit card sized tick device and sometimes even the smaller of the two removers is too small to deal with the smallest nymphs.

Dave

[Jon and Jen]

I've tried all types of tick removers without success. Jen could not get any out with them either. Maybe I'm doing it wrong but I just could not get them into the slot of the things. It always just passed over them. No amount of rocking, sliding or twisting them worked. I am careful not to burst them with the tweezers but sometimes it happens. Then I just scratch out the area to open it up and apply savlon. I end up scratching them all open anyway. I get fierce itchy anywhere I've been bitten by anything.

[tweedledog]

I've used the O Tom twisting tool for many, many years now both on myself and the dog. Works every time. Needs slightly more care with the smaller one.
Tweezers are a mistake!