The bad news is that the population of black-legged tick adults peaks in the fall. I brushed 6 ticks off my clothing last Friday (a warm day) after a walk through the LaPlatte River Marsh NA in Shelburne. Unfortunately (for me), I missed one that attached to my shoulder and had to be removed and escorted to the flush.
The good news is that most infections are transmitted by nymphs during the summer. Adult ticks are large enough that they can be recognized and removed within the 24-36 hour window after attachment and embedding before infection occurs. The nymphs are tiny and often go unrecognized before they have done their damage.
The VT Dept of Health has some very good information about Lyme disease prevention that every birder should read. The website can be found at healthvermont.gov then click on Lyme disease.
Bruce MacPherson
South Burlington
-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Wetmore <[log in to unmask]>
To: VTBIRD <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Fri, Nov 8, 2013 7:29 pm
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Ticks
Spray for clothing has been effect as a first defense against ticks. It is
available at our Blue Seal store or EMS store.
Sue Wetmore
TestSent from my iPod
On Nov 8, 2013, at 7:21 PM, Courtney Appleyard <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> They have been hideous where I am in Manchester too - my husband had 3 in a
week and I had one that had to have been on me for days… quite disgusting and
unsettling! Our doctor has given us refills on the doxycycline rescue dose!
Our dogs have Frontline but it's doing NOTHING!
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