Critters to look out for?

[jeffb]

Man, I just got bit by a tick the other day while camping. My first time ever. I was in pretty heavily wooded area and camped there for the night. The next morning I'm stractching my shoulder area and I feel something. I though it was like a mole or something. Then I look and this bug with 8 legs is attached to my arm. I try to flick it off and he aint comng off. I grap a pen and he still aint coming. I get a piece of paper and try to brush him off and he's still there moving its legs all about. And at first I didn't know it was a tick. It was about the size of my pinkie fingernail. So I get a paper towel, grab it by the body, and yanked him out. I'm kept him in a plastic bag at first so I could find out what it was. I talked to frined and she said it was most likely a tick So I looked it up on the internet and sure enough it was.

[Justin Case]

Man, I just got bit by a tick the other day while camping. My first time ever. I was in pretty heavily wooded area and camped there for the night. The next morning I'm stractching my shoulder area and I feel something. I though it was like a mole or something. Then I look and this bug with 8 legs is attached to my arm. I try to flick it off and he aint comng off. I grap a pen and he still aint coming. I get a piece of paper and try to brush him off and he's still there moving its legs all about. And at first I didn't know it was a tick. It was about the size of my pinkie fingernail. So I get a paper towel, grab it by the body, and yanked him out. I'm kept him in a plastic bag at first so I could find out what it was. I talked to frined and she said it was most likely a tick So I looked it up on the internet and sure enough it was.

Make sure you didn't break his tiny head off in your arm, That could be VERY bad !

[Ken]

Man, I just got bit by a tick the other day while camping. My first time ever. I was in pretty heavily wooded area and camped there for the night. The next morning I'm stractching my shoulder area and I feel something. I though it was like a mole or something. Then I look and this bug with 8 legs is attached to my arm. I try to flick it off and he aint comng off. I grap a pen and he still aint coming. I get a piece of paper and try to brush him off and he's still there moving its legs all about. And at first I didn't know it was a tick. It was about the size of my pinkie fingernail. So I get a paper towel, grab it by the body, and yanked him out. I'm kept him in a plastic bag at first so I could find out what it was. I talked to frined and she said it was most likely a tick So I looked it up on the internet and sure enough it was.

You've been camping for years and that's the first tick you've ever seen? Man, are you a lucky guy! Can't say that any of the ticks I've seen looked or acted quite like that.

[Rick]

This ain't right. You're 33, camp all the time and that's the first time you've ever seen a tick?

[jeffb]

You've been camping for years and that's the first tick you've ever seen? Man, are you a lucky guy! Can't say that any of the ticks I've seen looked or acted quite like that.

Yeah...I've been camping for about 10 years now....and that was the first tick I've had.

[Justin Case]

Yeah...I've been camping for about 10 years now....and that was the first tick I've had.

Where do you camp in So Cal ? Angeles National Forrest or Big Bear ? just curious.

[Ken]

Yeah...I've been camping for about 10 years now....and that was the first tick I've had.

Talk to Sarge about that. He's had ticks and fleas for years.

[Sarge47]

Man, I just got bit by a tick the other day while camping. My first time ever. I was in pretty heavily wooded area and camped there for the night. The next morning I'm stractching my shoulder area and I feel something. I though it was like a mole or something. Then I look and this bug with 8 legs is attached to my arm. I try to flick it off and he aint comng off. I grap a pen and he still aint coming. I get a piece of paper and try to brush him off and he's still there moving its legs all about. And at first I didn't know it was a tick. It was about the size of my pinkie fingernail. So I get a paper towel, grab it by the body, and yanked him out. I'm kept him in a plastic bag at first so I could find out what it was. I talked to frined and she said it was most likely a tick So I looked it up on the internet and sure enough it was.

I live in the Mid-west, also known as "Wood-Tick central." As an avid camper you should already know what I'm about to tell you but I'll post it just in case you don't:

1.) NEVER, & I MEAN NEVER, EVER PULL ON A TICK TO REMOVE THEM! Doing so will probably leave the head embedded in your skin,, which can lead to #2.

2.) Ticks can carry Lyme disease. Here's the Web-Site for the Califiornia Lyme Disease Association: http://www.lymedisease.org/

3.) Remove ticks by swabbing rubbing alcohol on their backside, this will cause them to "back out" so you can safely remove them. Ticks are usually flat; it's been said that you can actually turn them over while their walking & they never lose stride. So stomping on them usually doesn't kill them. Burning them alive is the best bet.

4.) While camping out be sure and use a strong, effective Insect Repellent" like "Deep-Woods Off" or the like. Spray it around your ankles & on your wrist & arms. Wear long sleeves and wrap duct-tape around the ankles of your pants. Finally wear either a hat or a bandanna around your head to keep them from dropping on you from above from tree limbs & such.

5.) If camping with others You all should check each other for ticks prior to going to turning in. Using a flashlight, you each strip down to your skivvies and check every area you can see yourselves, then check each other where you & they can't see, like your back, ect.. (Note: This can be a lot of fun if you have women along!)

Nest time be more careful.

[jeffb]

Where do you camp in So Cal ? Angeles National Forrest or Big Bear ? just curious.

I mostly camp around the San Diego and Orange County areas

[Justin Case]

I mostly camp around the San Diego and Orange County areas

Oh, I didnt know there was "Heavily Wooded" areas around there,, ? was just curious..

[Sarge47]

Jeff, were you ever in the Scouts?

[jeffb]

Jeff, were you ever in the Scouts?

No, never was in the Scouts.

[Sarge47]

No, never was in the Scouts.

Okay, that's why you didn't know about ticks. I don't view you as an intermediate camper, but a beginner with some experience camping and a lot of luck! If you're camping solo you're running a big risk. You've mentioned both Les S. & Dick P.; but does the name Chris McCandless or Alexander Supertramp mean anything to you? How about the book "Into The Wild" by Jon Krakauer? I highly recommend you read that before setting out on your own into the Wilderness. I also recommend Cory Lundin's book on survival: "98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your A$$ Alive!" You can view some of Cody's survival knowledge on Discovery's "Dual Survival." Godd luck in your endeavors.

[crashdive123]

I live in the Mid-west, also known as "Wood-Tick central." As an avid camper you should already know what I'm about to tell you but I'll post it just in case you don't:

1.) NEVER, & I MEAN NEVER, EVER PULL ON A TICK TO REMOVE THEM! Doing so will probably leave the head embedded in your skin,, which can lead to #2.

2.) Ticks can carry Lyme disease. Here's the Web-Site for the Califiornia Lyme Disease Association: http://www.lymedisease.org/

3.) Remove ticks by swabbing rubbing alcohol on their backside, this will cause them to "back out" so you can safely remove them. Ticks are usually flat; it's been said that you can actually turn them over while their walking & they never lose stride. So stomping on them usually doesn't kill them. Burning them alive is the best bet.

4.) While camping out be sure and use a strong, effective Insect Repellent" like "Deep-Woods Off" or the like. Spray it around your ankles & on your wrist & arms. Wear long sleeves and wrap duct-tape around the ankles of your pants. Finally wear either a hat or a bandanna around your head to keep them from dropping on you from above from tree limbs & such.

5.) If camping with others You all should check each other for ticks prior to going to turning in. Using a flashlight, you each strip down to your skivvies and check every area you can see yourselves, then check each other where you & they can't see, like your back, ect.. (Note: This can be a lot of fun if you have women along!)

Nest time be more careful.

I must respectfully disagree with using alcohol to remove ticks. Here's why - As you said, never grab the body and pull. While it is true that it can leave the head embedded in your skin, more importantly, squeezing the tick can cause the "bad stuff" on the inside of the tick to forcefully be injected into you. Using alcohol can cause a similar reaction. The best method for removing a feeding tick is to use a tick removal tool or pair of tweezers that come to a point. Grab the tick by the head (not the body) as close to the skin as possible and then pull it straight out. This method minimizes the transfer of "stuff" from the tick to you.

[jeffb]

Okay, that's why you didn't know about ticks. I don't view you as an intermediate camper, but a beginner with some experience camping and a lot of luck! If you're camping solo you're running a big risk. You've mentioned both Les S. & Dick P.; but does the name Chris McCandless or Alexander Supertramp mean anything to you? How about the book "Into The Wild" by Jon Krakauer? I highly recommend you read that before setting out on your own into the Wilderness. I also recommend Cory Lundin's book on survival: "98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your A$$ Alive!" You can view some of Cody's survival knowledge on Discovery's "Dual Survival." Godd luck in your endeavors.

Yeah I have read "Into The Wild". Great book. I was actually looking at it a few days ago. I've read the book but haven't seen the movie.

I haven't read that Cory Lundin book. This is the first time hearing of him.

[Sarge47]

I must respectfully disagree with using alcohol to remove ticks. Here's why - As you said, never grab the body and pull. While it is true that it can leave the head embedded in your skin, more importantly, squeezing the tick can cause the "bad stuff" on the inside of the tick to forcefully be injected into you. Using alcohol can cause a similar reaction. The best method for removing a feeding tick is to use a tick removal tool or pair of tweezers that come to a point. Grab the tick by the head (not the body) as close to the skin as possible and then pull it straight out. This method minimizes the transfer of "stuff" from the tick to you.

I'd listen to crash, that's probably the best way. I usually do that with a pair of Tweezers, but didn't realize that it was an "approved" method, I feel better now knowing that. Thanks Crash!

[crashdive123]

I know that the alcohol thing has been around for quite a while, but what happens is that it irritates the tick and it may regurgitate back into the puncture wound. Another method you see a lot is using soapy water. That smothers the tick and can cause the same reaction as alcohol. Sometimes those methods will work, but sometimes they won't. Tweezers work every time.

[Sarge47]

Yeah I have read "Into The Wild". Great book. I was actually looking at it a few days ago. I've read the book but haven't seen the movie.

I haven't read that Cory Lundin book. This is the first time hearing of him.

Great! "Into The Wild" teaches the lesson of the need to "Be Prepared!" Cody teaches a lot of "must Know" info. You can read more about it here:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...blog.php?b=120 Also here:

http://www.codylundin.com/abo_store.html

IMO you need to study a lot more before going off on your own.

[Sarge47]

I know that the alcohol thing has been around for quite a while, but what happens is that it irritates the tick and it may regurgitate back into the puncture wound. Another method you see a lot is using soapy water. That smothers the tick and can cause the same reaction as alcohol. Sometimes those methods will work, but sometimes they won't. Tweezers work every time.

So is this where we get the expression: "That tics me off!" from?

[Ken]

I know that the alcohol thing has been around for quite a while, but what happens is that it irritates the tick and it may regurgitate back into the puncture wound. Another method you see a lot is using soapy water. That smothers the tick and can cause the same reaction as alcohol. Sometimes those methods will work, but sometimes they won't. Tweezers work every time.

And then disinfect the daylights out of the bite area. Scrub with a medicated cleanser (like Phisohex or Hibiclens) and then pour some alcohol over the area (it won't hurt ya' none) and then a bit of bleach (yeah', some folks say not to do this, but I do it) and then paint it with iodine or merthiolate.

Why?

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Lyme disease. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease

No guarantees, but it sure won't hurt to try.