Ticks,will they die off now?

[Jason Claxton]

I've had a couple of ticks on me today from a nearby wood,how long will these blighters go on for,can a cold spell kill them off? ,and is it possible that they will go on all year?,do they hibernate?Cheers Jason

[Phoebe]

Hi Jason,

Not from any textbook but my belief is they can lay dormant on/in the ground for several years waiting for a host (or maybe that is the worms that dogs get ).

Someone will undoubtedly know...

[Jason Claxton]

Thanks Phoebe .So they dont overwinter as eggs then or anything like that.There are definitely adults still about now.I was kind of hoping for a seasonal break from those ticks.Cheers Jason

[Deer Stalker]

I'm still getting them on me from the New Forest. They usually disappear with the first hard frosts & cold weather.

[earthdragon64]

According to a really useful website with loads of info on ticks they are most active from April to October. However, in previous years I've found some on my dog in February. It depends on how cold the winter is.

Ticks - Lyme Disease & other tick borne diseases in Britain

See the 3rd question down on the link above.

[Jason Claxton]

Thanks Deerstalker and Earthdragon,I see from your link that both cold and also dry weather can get them as well,a nice spell of cold dry weather should do it nicely.Thanks both

[Beekeeper]

Jason, out of interest a common host for ticks is deer, wherever there are herds of deer there seems to be an infestation of ticks in the general area, they especially love fern, living on the underside of the fronds (I think that is the correct word) and of course in long grass so its always best to avoid both of these in summer months if you can.

Ian

[Jason Claxton]

Yes I agree about them being on ferns,Bracken being a key place.This year though me and a friend saw loads at the top of Wood Docks,waiting to get on to a host,I dont think there is a particular plant that they will get on,but probably more a case of what they can climb up,the blighters.I saw none on Nettles near the infested Wood Dock that day,I thought that maybe hairy plants were more difficult for them to climb up, or something like that, I really dont know, but I'm sure the answer is not just walking through the nettles then.

[Phoebe]

You will also find ticks where there are sheep, I had my first encounter after I had walked the dogs through a field of sheep. It got on the dog not me

[Jason Claxton]

I seem to get more ticks on me than either of my two dogs.I normally find the ticks before they have time to have a drink on the house.Cheers Phoebe

[Teal]

Ticks will be just about anywhere if there are sheep, deer and to some extent cattle. They are very hardy little blighters and will for example survive two tides a day on estuaries where sheep have been grazing. I took 18 off my dog a few years ago after an hour walking through spartina!

You should be careful removing ticks as if you squidge them or give them a shock (heat or surgical spirit for example) it is likely that they will 'spit' back into your bloodstream. You can buy tick removal tools for a couple of quid which are the safer option for you and the dog!

[Jason Claxton]

I really should get that tool for removing them ,thanks Teal.I've had at least twelve on me this year,one of my dogs had one on him this year,it was worse when it dropped off and we didn't know where it went.Is there anything out there for people ,that repels ticks,do you know?

[Meta menardi]

The tick problem should not be ignored.

Kevin Slater, 48, of Holme-on-Spalding Moor struck down with Lyme Disease after being bitten by a tick while walking in the Lake District (From York Press)

[JRsbugs]

Jason, I don't know if you saw the main page on the site Teal linked to, I copied the address from the last poster on the link which Meta gave.

Lyme Disease Action, the UK based Lyme charity

You really need to be careful, start tucking your trouser legs in etc.

Janet

[Jason Claxton]

Thanks,highly alarming indeed