What precautions do you take to avoid ticks?

[aris]

I know there are many - but i'm wondering what others do. Options include:

• Spray yourself with Deet
• Soak/spray clothing with permethrin
• Special 'tick resistant' clothing
• No esposed skin - tuck clothing in wherever possible.
• Avoid tall grass - stick to well trodden routes

Of course one needs to inspect yourself afterwards, but this isn't always easy - prevention is always better IMHO.

What do you all do?

 

[reloader54]

stay as far away from Thetford as possible, I've never known such a tick infested place. I fully expect there to be similar hotspots I'm not aware of.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Option 1 for me. I was chatting to a fella about the Rovince trousers the other day though, and I reckon this might be my next move

 

[aris]

stay as far away from Thetford as possible, I've never known such a tick infested place. I fully expect there to be similar hotspots I'm not aware of.

Noted. I'll mainly be in Buckinghamshire.

 

[VSS]

Regular accidental anointment with the various noxious substances I apply to my sheep to protect them from external parasites seems to have rendered me permanently immune to ticks.

 

[aris]

Regular accidental anointment with the various noxious substances I apply to my sheep to protect them from external parasites seems to have rendered me permanently immune to ticks.

Getting sufficiently intimate with sheep to confer immunity from ticks isn't an option for me

 

[Woodsmoke]

Regular accidental anointment with the various noxious substances I apply to my sheep

Crovect being particularly effective, I reckon

 

[Woodsmoke]

Getting sufficiently intimate with sheep to confer immunity from ticks isn't an option for me

Which infers it's an option you've considered? I've read about people like you . .

 

[VSS]

Crovect being particularly effective, I reckon

No, Dysect and Spot-on are both more effective against ticks.

(edit: on sheep I mean. Please don't for a moment think that I'm recommending applying them to yourself!)

 

[bogtrotter]

Nothing other than routine inspections, a lot of ticks in my area and been unlucky enough to have contracted Lyme
twice.
Won't use permethrin as there is too much conflicting evidence on safety.

 

[DRWC]

I keep a couple of quite aggressive old cock ticks in the likely areas. They push off any newcomers and I’ve got used to the itchiness

 

[VSS]

I keep a couple of quite aggressive old cock ticks in the likely areas. They push off any newcomers and I’ve got used to the itchiness

Cock ticks? Named after their habitat, I guess...

 

[reloader54]

I keep a couple of quite aggressive old cock ticks in the likely areas. They push off any newcomers and I’ve got used to the itchiness

I didn't know ticks were area specific,,

 

[reloader54]

Cock ticks? Named after their habitat, I guess...

I reckon some people will be covered in them then.

 

[Taystalker]

Rovince all the way

 

[aris]

Rovince all the way

An option - but from what i've seen, it is merely permethrin coated clothing - albeit with a proprietary polymer which I presume keeps it from getting washed out.

 

[Alantoo]

Whatever we didn’t do...tick removed from arm on 27. June, spotted rash today GP appointment in 20 minutes.

What do you all do?

 

[redlab]

Option 1 for me. I was chatting to a fella about the Rovince trousers the other day though, and I reckon this might be my next move

best move you will ever make - yea they do wear off but you will need to be wearing, washing a lot for that to happen.

 

[Freeforester]

Permethrin is most effective against ticks, they fall off any clothing sprayed with it very quickly. Ticks also tend to crawl upwards, check this next time you find one, if you transfer it on to a cloth and hang up same, it will crawl upwards, if you turn the article the tick will change course to continue upwards; this trait can be used to advantage: wear gaiters or at least tuck trousers inside socks so they continue on the outside of your trousers, preferably treated with permethrin. Cheap, effective. Deet is better for guarding against mosquitos etc, but ticks cannot live with permethrin.

By the way, everyone who has ever eaten an organic carrot will eventually die, same as everyone bitten or not by a tick, using or not using permethrin, etc. The US military conducted extensive tests on the stuff and concluded that it could not be absorbed through the skin, hence why they use it on all their clothing. Oh, and everyone who agrees or disagrees will also meet their maker, in due course

 

[paulbshooting]

I hang my stalking clothes on the washing line to periodically spray them with the treatment for mosquito nets (can't recall what it is called) which contains permethrin.
I found that certainly helps and always have stalking trousers tucked into boot socks.
A quick check over and shower when back home.
Pulled a tick off recently that left an angry bite mark but no rash, so got a docs appointment and anti-biotics, 2 weeks later just had blood test for Lymes, results next week.
Don't mess about if you get a bite! just in case.