Tick's

[ClimbingGirl]

Keep an eye out for ticks. I found one on me after climbing at Main Face yesterday.

[Rich]

How were the blackflyz and sqeeters?

[SeanM]

One? Holy cow.

I went fishing in Lunenberg county last week and had 12 on my pants and shoes when I got back to the car. And I only went through about 80 feet of trail.

I think Lunenbreg county is where they make the ticks for export to the rest of the province.

[Adam]

I find it astounding how many tick marks are found where climbers have been. I had no idea that such little insects could leave such vast amounts of white residue behind, and moreover, how the little bugs developed the instincts to place them next to key holds. I have trouble seeing the competitive advantage, and I'm no biologist, but it results from them holding on to the crimps while they rub their bottoms on the rock...??

[Seb]

Hey Rich,

I’m surprised a grizzly trad climbed like you would even bother to inquire about something like flies. I thought you were tougher than that! By the way, we’ve moved into Main Face – it’s our new home. You should join us for a session if you have the time. We could use an old pro to show us how it’s really done.

Seb

[Leehammer]

About 2% of the ticks tested on islands in the bay of Fundy in 2007 came back positive for a neurotropic form of Lyme disease. I don't know if any tests have been done on the coast, but you really wouldn't want to catch this.

Just a head's up,
Liam

[SeanM]

If you do find a tick attached, and if it does, by small chance, have the Lyme-causing spirochetes, removing it within 36 hours reduces the chance of infection to nearly zero. Despite the old folk remedies of removing a tick (holding a hot match to it, smothering it in vaseline), the safest way to remove the tick is to grasp it with tweezers, or the pliers of your multi-tool, and pull straight back. Steady pull for 20-30 seconds, at most, should cause it to give up and let go. Don't twist or bend it, as you could break off it's head.

If you DO break off it's head, its not the end of the world. It's likely not got any nasties in the head, and your body will treat it like a splinter or any other foreign object, and break it down on its own. Try not to pick at it to the point where it bleeds, but gentle attention is ok to try and remove it fully.

Using alcohol or any other smothering agent causes the tick to, more or less, regurgitate all your blood back into your skin, along with any nasties it had in it's stomach before getting to you.

Ticks are icky, but the chances of contracting Lyme are vanishingly small, if you take some simple precautions. Number one, in my book: if you're going bushwhacking, wear long pants you can tuck in to your socks. Ticks usually remain on the branches of trees and shrubbery, and as you brush by them with your feet, they jump to your shoes and pants. Shake your pants out firmly, outdoors, and wash them as soon as you get home to remove all the ticks you've gotten on them.

I, generally, take a shower as soon as I get home from an outdoor tracking session, if nothing else, because i'm hot and sweaty.. Doing a rapid tick check in the shower will find any you've picked up, and if you happen to find one, do what Eva recommends and take it to DNR, or make sure it goes all the way down the drain, if you dispose of it. They're crafty buggers. Arm pits, and groin are often their favorite areas. Dark and warm.

[martha]

I grew up in Digby and that place is woodtick central it seems. Mom used to do a strip search of us every night when we came in from playing to check us. We always found some. warm spots for sure... belly buttons, behind the ears etc. We've always used the tip of a hot Jack knife to get the ticks out. you heat up the end of the knife with a match or lighter and then just touch the tip to the back end of the tick. It backs up out of you and you can then get rid of it. Don't bother trying to squish it though, they have super hard shells on them. We always burned them to get rid of them just to be sure they were gone.

The bouldering in Trout Cove has a TON of them in the long grass. Digby and Annapolis county are full of them..... Keji is full of them.

Ahhhh.... gotta love South West Nova.

[chossmonkey]

About 2% of the ticks tested on islands in the bay of Fundy in 2007 came back positive for a neurotropic form of Lyme disease.

Are these common wood ticks? I thought only deer ticks carried Lyme disease?

[*Chris*]

About 2% of the ticks tested on islands in the bay of Fundy in 2007 came back positive for a neurotropic form of Lyme disease.

Are these common wood ticks? I thought only deer ticks carried Lyme disease?

I've always been told that the ticks in southern NS are 'wood ticks' or 'moose ticks'... and thus, are not the carriers of Lyme disease. For what it's worth I have personally removed 2 'deer ticks' from my dog and a third from Burley's dog (of the NB leash tread fame) over the past spring. All were picked up in southern NB, likely in Welsford since all were discovered following climbing trips, but I can't be certain. Deer ticks are certainly becoming common place in NB, so likely they are present in NS too. If you find ticks on your crag dogs the toughest part is keeping them still for 20 seconds to pull the little bastards strait out. Peanut butter on the paws does the trick to keep my dog still and occupied.

[Joe]

Lyme Disease is only carried by the Black-legged tick, aka Deer tick. It is much smaller than the common Wood Tick, about 1x2 mm. In NB about 10% of these ticks were found to carry the Lyme-causing spirochetes, however last summer in Saint John a small outbreak of Lyme disease occurred, and 20% of the ticks had the spirochete. It appears the disease is on the increase in NB, so it may also become more common in NS. The medical circles are just starting to pick up on Lyme disease, so your family doctor may or may not be aware of it.
If you find a very small tick on you, carefully remove the tick with tweezers as outlined earlier. The danger of applying heat, oils, etc. to the tick is that the tick may regurgitate its guts into your bloodstream, and if its a carrier, you're in trouble. Always retain the tick, and submit it to your doctor for testing. The classic sign of Lyme Disease is a red, circular rash around the bite site, however only 60% of those contracted will develop the rash. After that, symptoms are flu-like feelings, followed by pain in the joints and severe lethargy. If not treated, the disease can be life-threatening. However if detected, it is easily treated with antibiotics. Actually a co-worker of mine who has Lyme Disease has been seeing a specialist in Port Hawkesbury (of all places) and apparently this doctor is nationally recognized. But the best prevention is awareness. If you travel in tick country, it is in your best interest to learn about Black-legged ticks and Lyme Disease. By the way, June and July are the worst months for ticks. And we thought climbing was dangerous - it's the approach that can get ya.

[Joe]

I was speaking with a wildlife pathologist and was informed there are three "epicenters" of Lyme Disease in NS: Lunenburg, Spryfield and Antigonish. Be careful of the ticks in these areas.

[peter]

I find it astounding how many tick marks are found where climbers have been. I had no idea that such little insects could leave such vast amounts of white residue behind, and moreover, how the little bugs developed the instincts to place them next to key holds. I have trouble seeing the competitive advantage, and I'm no biologist, but it results from them holding on to the crimps while they rub their bottoms on the rock...??

Sorry girls, but the ticks discussed in the above post are, like, way far more pernicious in climbing areas than, like, whatever you guys are talking about?

If you fear Lyme disease in a climbing area, that is, like, soooo retro, like, soooo 2001?

But if like me, you actually like retro (I know!), like gritstone and grrrrh, you should, like, totally check out the following site (pssst: which means below):

http://wiki.tradgirl.com/Lyme_Disease

Having climbed with Trad Girl and, I have to admit, also with her boyfriend, which was a bummer, I, like, just have to say, she rocks. Totally.