Ticks?

[Phil McBride]

Howdy,

I just returned from the Stand of Colors mainstream event outside Kansas City. I had read their disclaimer about dealing with ticks, but being a good Texan used to coping with fire ants, and I didn't give the idea of a few ticks a second thought. Until we arrived, and we immediately learned that the incredible numbers of the little beasties was almost overwhelming. There presence was unrelenting all weekend, deet or no deet, and really did go substantially beyond a nuisance level.

So my question is will the tick plague of Kansas City in May also be present in the hills near Clearwater Lake in September? Just wondering.

Phil McBride
The Alamo Rifles

[huntdaw]

It's possible. But you might not have many or any at all. Hopefully by late September they won't be as numerous. The wooded areas might not be too bad but there are some grassy valleys which could house the little darlin's.

[speaslee]

I actually do the tick testing for the State of Ohio. Spring is the season for ticks! Just after the frost ends but before the heat of the summer has started. The ticks’ presence will decline during the summer and will make a slight come back in the fall as the weather gets cooler. But they should be nowhere near as bad.

[csabugler]

Hey Sarah, in your tick testing, do you find them better at math or science????:rolleyes:
No really, I would be interested in what you are testing for. Population, terrain, genetics?
Here in central GA they are a plague. they feast on the horses in spring, especially the black ones.

[speaslee]

Hey Sarah, in your tick testing, do you find them better at math or science????:rolleyes:
No really, I would be interested in what you are testing for. Population, terrain, genetics?
Here in central GA they are a plague. they feast on the horses in spring, especially the black ones.

I work for a public health lab. Here in Ohio, the most prevalent tick is the dog tick (usually a blackish brown color/the size is ~half the size of your little finger, unfed) which is tested for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Our main focus is to track the prevalence of diseases in ticks/mosquitoes/birds so the general public can be warned if an outbreak occurs. The good news is a tick has to be attached for a pretty good while before disease can be transmitted. The most important thing is to know what type of tick is biting you so that you can look for specific symptoms of the disease that tick in known to carry.

[Mark Britton]

On the subject of ticks, an old remedy that may help you avoid being a victim in the future is to place a small amount of sulfur in your shoes. Your body apparently absorbs some of the sulfur, and insects typically do not like the sulfur presence. There is no other disagreeable smell that I'm aware of that others would notice either.

[Campjacksonboy]

I will be going to the event site a few times this summer to get things done and will give a report when I go down there in July.
Historically, ticks have been bad in that valley but all the rain and flooding most likely kept them at bay or washed them out.

Frank Aufmuth

[scotty]

I think the ticks took up campaigning. They were in full force at Glendale/Malverne hill in April.I easily pulled forty off my body, five of which had to be dug out. Just finished presription of doxysillon.

[Jim Moffet]

At Stand of Colors last weekend, I lost count of the embedded ones at somehwere in the mid 80's! 35 years in this hobby, and NEVER saw anything like this near Biblical plague! Most were lone star ticks - not too dangerous, but as small as the head of a pin (atleast until bloated with your blood - which makes them lots easier to find and remove :eek:). I didn't bother to count the mobile vermin, but I'd bet it would have to have been a 4 digit number.


Jim Moffet
Western Brigade

[IowaYank]

Jim is right about stand of colors and ticks. While we did have lots of ticks on us, I could not count the number of ticks we pulled off of our horses. Man those things are tick magnets!!!

[Andrew Kasmar]

Hi,

Those little blood sucking ticks were all over me and my company. One of the guys with me pulled off 91 ticks stuck to his skin; I managed to get away with around 45 stuck to me. I have a event in 3 weeks and I sure hope there are not as many ticks as there were last weekend.

[westphalia]

The tough part is trying to remove them without infesting your house. My dog tends to pick up anything that's decided to come home with me.

I try to stay in the bathtub when removing them, but they just seem to get everywhere. I hate 'em.

[GrumpyDave]

After a couple of months of Civil War events(Yep, I was at the Glendale tick pick), spring turkey hunting and trips afield with the Boy Scouts, I can say the tick population between Virginia and Pennsylvania is quite healthy. I can also vouch, the use of DEET is nearly useless for the little buggers; it would seem they quite enjoy the stuff. The only think I've found that works is "Repel - Permanone" which contains a permethrin(.5%). Just don't put the stuff on your skin. Permethrin is a pesticide. However, ticks have been no problem since I've begun using the stuff. Got it at Wally World.

Not to actual size:
Brown Dog Tick:
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/4690/browndogtickad2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Lone Star Tick:
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/2865/lonestartickda1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And, the "Infamous" Deer Tick:
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/3586/deertickmc0.gif (http://imageshack.us)

Size wise, you'd be lucky to find a Deer Tick without a good hard look and a glass. Those buggers are about as big as a dot you make with a Bic ballpoint pen. The others are quite visible at all stages in their lives. All ticks look the same as juviniles as they do as adults. Just because you have a small tick on you, doesn't mean it's a Deer Tick. And as far as I know, Deer Ticks are the fellers that carry the nasty disease. The others don't and there has been no reported examples of any tick but Deer Ticks carrying RMSF. I've been in the Pest Control Industry since 1987 and we have mandatory yearly classes on the stuff. Go ahead, Google "Reported cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in (insert your state here)" http://www.cdc.gov/mmwR/preview/mmwrhtml/00001613.htm Guess, why that's 1989 research? Because there are few or no current available because, RMSF is fairly insigfinant in the US population. (Sorry for the Rant) Other news favorites are Hantavirus and Avian Flu. You'll be amazed how frightened the press has the population. I've only ever seen Deer Ticks here in PA twice in my life,(besides on glass microscope slides.). Once in 2004 on a dead doe and once in 2006 on a dead squirrel. And, I literally spend months a year in the outdoors. Education is the key. And, one of our past members (CR's) has a PHD in Entimology. I've herd his talk and, it was great. I worked with Nick in the Industry for a couple of years too. There's nothing wrong with caution. There's everything wrong with unsubstianted fear.

[huntdaw]

Permanone works well against all sorts of critters. I have used it before with good results also. A day or two before the event spray down your clothing with the stuff until it is damp - especially the socks and trousers. Let it dry well and it will form a barrier that should help you throughout the weekend.

Make sure you follow the label directions. This isn't like DEET that you can rub on yourself. Do not get it on your skin and apply during a windless time to avoid drift into your face, mouth, eyes etc. Don't let all the warnings scare you away from using it. It's pretty safe unless your careless with the application and handling.

[Pennvolunteer]

I have no idea how many I pulled off of me there, but when I got home from Stand of Colors, I pulled off 3 more, and yesterday finally brought my gear in from the back porch and found 5 or 6 more, all dead. My son thought maybe it was just the area, but I was stationed at Fort Riley for 3 1/2 years, and never saw anything like Stand of Colors for ticks. In fact, I remember chiggers, but never ticks. The Frontier Bde Hospital folks were spraying guys with some stuff in an industrial sprayer that seemed to work, probably something like the Permanone. I remember when I deployed to the Middle East, they had us soak our Desert uniforms in Permitherin (sp?) for insects.

[missourirelics]

It's not the ticks that concern me, it's the chiggers! I live an hour and a half from the site (southeast) and the ticks are out in full force down here, as I am sure they will be this summer and this fall. Just be prepared and be glad we don't have fire ants. Frank should have all the copperheads and timber rattlers scared off by then:cry_smile

Paul Arnold

[csabugler]

Grumpydave,
In your pics you say "not actual size" you are right, they are bigger than that here and at the Mill!!!

[Old Reb]

Fire ants eat ticks so places that have fire ants have fewer ticks. Anyone wishing a shipment of fireants sent north let me know. I have plently!

[csabugler]

I need to have a talk with my fire ants!:eek:

[Silvana Siddali]

I spent a couple of days on the site last July (this is when we were building that infamous Road!) and only found two tiny ticks by the end of the weekend.

This is significant because we were working in modern clothes, which don't cover nearly as much geography as period gear. I truly don't think ticks will be a problem in late September.

Also, I didn't notice any mosquitoes at all, not even one, & and saw no poison ivy.

[Jim of The SRR]

I take garlic tablets (2-3 per day) for a week prior to a reenactment. It seems to work very well against insects. There is one extreme failure I have found...that is NOTHING works against swamp bugs (i.e. Vicksburg bugs). I also take a multiple vitamin each day and that seems to help as well. I have also been told by rangers to avoid potassium (i.e bananas) prior to an event as this attracts mosquitos.

Jim Butler

[moarkcav]

I will be near the site this weekend and will let you know how the ticks are.

Chris Talburt

[Campjacksonboy]

We were just down there for a work weekend.

Just wanted you all to know that we are going into the woods and ticks live there. Not that anyone should be surprised.
The same goes for Poison Ivy which grows near the treelines. This is pretty centralized in the couple of areas where they grow. Once in the woods you won't see any poison ivy, Just near the tree lines. Pretty easy to avoid Assume that there's not a darn thing I can do about it.

I wore shorts during our road building expedition and clearing of the Federal Camp and Fort Area. My legs got scratched up while cutting through the morass so that none of you would have to. I got some ticks -No problems with poison ivy.
Just goes along the lines that we are going into the woods and what events haven't had these things???
Frank

[Dale Beasley]

If in this thread, you are asking how to prevent tick bites, etc..then mix a half a jigger of vinegar in your water canteen. You will smell like a pickle, but when your sweat the vinegar will come out in your pores.

[the other nathan]

pardon my ignorance, but what is a "jigger" of vinegar?

[pvt_jb]

If in this thread, you are asking how to prevent tick bites, etc..then mix a half a jigger of vinegar in your water canteen. You will smell like a pickle, but when your sweat the vinegar will come out in your pours.


Does that mean we get a vinegar rations?? :p

[huntdaw]

The only real way to find out about the ticks is to get registered and attend the event.

[Dale Beasley]

Maybe this is the Preventive Medicine Officer coming out in me. But as it was in Northern Virginia this past June, ticks is something that can really ruin your day and is something you can avoid. If the area that the event is being held has not been treated, then it should be left of your command and yourself to prevent.

There are some very simple effective methods to prevent ticks...please don't allow "the authentic thing" to cloud your judgement.

[Possum Stew]

Without commenting on the use of modern tick protection... The ticks have sure dropped off. I live within a couple hours from the site in the Ozarks. Its not so much the ticks, but the mosquitoes. Can't wait.

[AZFarrier]

Origionally Posted: Possum Stew
The ticks have sure dropped off. I live within a couple hours from the site in the Ozarks. Its not so much the ticks, but the mosquitoes.
Yeah Whats a good event without a few cases of Malaria or lime disease coming out of this. Just adds to the experience. Ha ha!
I'm looking forward to this , I cant wait.

[MO-Pard]

Ticks have dropped off considerably.......

Another natural remed is lavendar oil. A few drops around the socks neck and wrists, seem to do wonders. I usually do the garlic as well for the mosquitos....


Best Regards

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Moderator hat on...

IMHO, we are all acquainted with the Real Life inconveniences and even life-threatening perils of sun, water, poisonous snakes, poisonous plants, bitting and stinging insects, sundry disease vectors, and the risks of not taking modern medications.

Please keep the discussion here 'Period" or feel free to take it to PM or E-mail, and avoid the Flame Bait.

Thanks.

Curt

[AZReenactor]

Garlic, vinegar, lavendar oil. Should make the 20+ hour drive to and from AZ with a truck full of guys very pleasant. ;-)

I'm very much looking forward to this event as well!

[Anna Allen]

Ticks have dropped off considerably.......

Another natural remed is lavendar oil. A few drops around the socks neck and wrists, seem to do wonders. I usually do the garlic as well for the mosquitos....


Best Regards

Ya'll are gonna smell so purty. :p And I forgot vinegar repels ticks. Kewl. I already wash my hair with a vinegar mixture :D so I guess I'm set. And that permanone stuff seems to work, even if it is farby.

I'm psyched!