Deer Ticks Redux
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- mggraves
- LadyB
- mggraves
- LadyB
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» mggraves - Deer ticks
Thanks for this article. I had googled the topic looking for info. I just moved to a 45 acre farm outside Nashville, TN. It is a wonderful place with two ponds and is teeming with life. I have deer in my yard some mornings (last count 11) and wild turkeys. Most of it is wooded, but when I started mowing the lawn, I noticed not only big ticks but these tiny, tiny ones. Naturally I panicked. I was afraid I'd get Lyme Disease. You have provided me with some good suggestions. Thanks, Marilyn-- posted by mggraves
» LadyB - Re: Deer ticks
In response to message posted by mggraves:Well, Marilyn, glad I could help.
I'm not sure just HOW prevalent Lyme Disease is in Nashville (not sure how well updated those maps are that show #'s of cases for each state) but your buddies the turkeys are out there feasting on ticks, so that helps too. But yes, mowing is how you REALLY kick them up out of the grass, and often when folks are mowing they're not looking as they duck under tree branches and all. So, spray down before you start that mowing! And bless the turkeys, they're doing their JOB.....
Best of luck for a safe season!
Ladyb
-- posted by LadyB
» mggraves - Re: Re: Deer ticks
In response to message posted by LadyB:Apparently, I'm not in the Lyme disease area but there are other ticks in the South that can harbor other diseases. I've been checking some more. Whether or not I'm at risk for getting a disease, the big thing is TICKS ARE GROSS. I found this army surplus store at a rural crossroads and the lady who runs it says when taking a bath put baby oil in the water or use this Avon product called Skin So Soft and that makes the little buggers jump off. Marilyn
-- posted by mggraves
» LadyB - Re: Re: Re: Deer ticks
In response to message posted by mggraves:Well, Marilyn,
I've seen Skin So Soft used against mosquitos and MayFlies/ShadFlies, heard some semi-official research that it's effective for all of about half an hour at a clip.... HATE the smell of it myself, but honestly not seen much about it having ANY effect on ticks. SOUNDS like it should make sense that ANY biting insect would not be pleased with some scented oil on the skin it considers food, but I'm just not HEARING glowing reports, not in THIS neck of the woods, anyway......I have TRIED putting the Rose Geranium oil into unscented skin lotion, but even THAT is relatively miserable in the real summer heat. Re-applying once your gardening hands get all grubby isn't fun either. That's one of the reasons I went for the water-based Spray-On.
But diseases or NO diseases, you're right, ticks are scheevy little X-files to be sure X(
LadyB
-- posted by LadyB
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