How Do I Deal With Ticks?
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- Опубліковано 13 чер 2024
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Please excuse my brief absence from UA-cam. I’ve been diligently finalizing a brand new online tree identification course - Trees In All Seasons. After many years of work, I’m happy to announce that it will be released in May! This online video course is designed to teach students how to confidently and successfully identify over 100 trees in every season - spring, summer, fall, and winter. If you are interested in identifying trees but are finding it difficult to learn through field guides and apps, consider enrolling in Trees In All Seasons this May. To receive updates regarding the initial release of the course, please subscribe to the Learn Your Land email newsletter: learnyourland.com/
Trees in All Seasons sounds amazing. Can't wait!
I love trees way more than i do humans
This is exactly what I needed! Looking forward to learning from your expertise. Also, found my first tick of 2022 just minutes ago.
hi adam,
great that you‘re back!!!
congratulations for your new project- that really sounds awesome! can‘t wait to check it out!
all the best to you from stuttgart / germany
Can’t wait for this one. I recognize a few, but most look tall, brown and have bark. So I need help!!
I have two chickens that free range the whole neighborhood. I haven't had a tick problem since.
What breeds of chickens do you have? I’m thinking of buying chickens for this purpose and also for egg laying.
Every single east coast chicken owner I have ever met says the same thing.
I'm an Opossum rancher. Nothing keeps ticks down like a thriving herd of Opossums; they're relentless, voracious *tickivores.
*I made up that word.
@@Hansen23900
Not that you asked me, but, I'll step in it, anyway: I free range Dark Cornish and they're busy li'l tick terminators.
EDIT: Some weirdos employ Guinea Fowl to hunt down ticks. They seem to find the raucous racket of Guinea Fowl ... acceptable?
don't you ever leave your property?
Here in Maine, we put out tubes stuffed with a bit of cotton ball, or dog hair, sprayed with parathion. The mice are the vector that the tick nymphs grow on during the winter. The mice take up the cotton/dog hair and use it for their nests. The parathion kills the ticks. We have only done this once, this last fall. It is April 24th and it appears that there are less ticks so far this year, although that is difficult to assess so early.
Being an ex-guerrilla grower, I spent a lot of time in the woods in America's heartland and know this plight well. Gold Bond medicated powder with the zinc oxide is a game changer. It's like boric acid to cockroaches, it aggravates their exoskeleton. Tea tree oil on the outside of shoes helps also.
Thank you for your service!
Old timers around here fill a sock with powdered sulfer and hit the bottoms of their pants and shoes with it, to keep rocks at bay.
Guerillas to pharoahs❤
@@dennistate5953I applaud your comment!
As a former resident of Californica I didn't have to hide it but I appreciate what growers do to grow. Will not commply!
Opossums deserve an applause for their efforts to control the tick populations 👏
Yay, opossums! I love you guys! 👏👏👏
I got Guinea Fowl roaming my property to help with ticks.
They are a greatly misunderstood creature and not well-loved because they aren't as cute as other animals. It's sad that they are often treated as pests. But opossums are truly wonderful and deserve better.
misinformation from a bad study talk to an actual biologist not memes
mind you, I reserve the right to decide if I think they're cute or not.
I've practiced exactly these talking points for years, remove a dozen ticks a year off me and the dog and have yet to contract Lyme. Not only important to be aware, but get the tick off immediately, monitor the bite site. Thanks Adam!
Educational videos like this could really save your life, Lyme is no joke.
Ive shattered a leg, and a hand, even used a sledgehammer while the hand was still busted. Ive over dosed, and experienced near fatal serotonin syndrome. Ive known some pretty incredible pain, nothing compared to getting tick bit, and then killing the lyme. My god, the spasms, and tension, it was honestly like starting rigor mortis while alive, i felt like my own body was trying to constrict itself. At one point, while stuck getting tighter, and tighter, pretty sure i heard my ribs making a popping sound. Ive had hundreds, or a thousand, ticks on me, and ive been bitten many times, there was, only once, a tiny one was hiding on a bruise, which had likely been on me for up to a day or two. I swear, i had checked so many times, felt safe, ate some mushys, and instantly felt like something was wrong. When i saw it i knew which field it must have come from, and i knew i was gonna get sick. On the diet thing, the lyme dying is when the pain really comes, and garlic caused pain on par with the antibiotics. A couple years later, sometimes, when i do a garlic day, it still hurts, factors less then it was, but i know its still in there, hoping my immunes getting real familiar lol
My poor dog (long haired corgi) is a tick magnet. He’s had lyme and anaplasmosis two times now.
@@evilchic006 i hear vets are great at getting rid of Lyme
@@evilchic006 How did Lyme affect him? A science magazine some years back claimed dogs are asymptomatic carriers.
My wife and I are diligent yet she caught Lyme disease last year and still suffers from it.
As a native of NE Pennsylvania, I’ve dealt with my fair share of ticks over the years. I’ve utilized all the methods you’ve mentioned. My usual go-to is also simply being aware of where they are and tactfully avoiding those areas, but many times, this is not feasible. If I expect to be walking through a lot of brush, ferns, leaves, or tall grass, I’ll constantly check my clothing. Truthfully, I do like permethrin, as that makes your time outdoors virtually worry-free, though I do understand why people are off-put by coating their clothing in a toxic chemical. My father’s method of tick avoidance is actually very effective in most cases: tall rubber boots. Ticks do not like climbing on the rubber, and will seek easier prey when confronted with this type of impediment.
I have considered permethrin because we bushwhack a lot. We live in the NJ Pinelands, which means an abundance of wild highbush blueberries and huckleberries throughout the summer. Picking berries ultimate means ticks crawling up our sleeves. Would permethrin be helpful with that? Most people say they spray it on their pants only, but what about when you're bushwhacking and your hair brushes up against leaves, or when you're picking berries? One of my biggest reservations about permethrin, aside from toxicity, is that it could kill friend insects. I would hate for a lightning bug or jumping spider to land on me and die. I'm still trying to work out the best tick strategy.
@@ruinsane100 The instructions on the permethrin bottle say that you can spray all your clothes, tents, outdoor gear, etc. it also warns you not to touch it while it’s wet, but that it’s completely safe when it’s dry. I don’t really see how that’s possible, considering ticks die within moments of coming into contact with your treated clothing, it can’t be that great for any other living things. That said, the times I have used it, I haven’t suffered any ill effects, though I don’t use it all that often and I’m usually wearing long underwear, which minimizes contact with my outer clothing. As far as other insects, it probably would be harmful, but as long as they stay off of your clothing, it shouldn’t bother them. It’s not a repellent. It’s designed to kill bugs crawling on your clothes.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Happy Sabbath, believers of God!
Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.
Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, Isaiah 58:13
Be blessed on His holy 7th day and rest with our creator!
I use permetherin and when walking through really dense coverage, I use my trekking poles to contact the brush before I do. kinda swoop the vegetation before I pass by it. Same with spider webs first thing in the morning. swing your pole to take down the ones you can see.
Question of the day 15:
Answer to Question of the day 14 is...
God's character is love.
>1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
His greatest act of love were He sent His only begotten son to save and redeem us.
Sacrificing His only son to show how much He love us is the greatest display of His love.
>1 John 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
God's Ten Love commandments shows His character.
The first 4 commandments are Love for God with all our hearts, minds, and souls. (Exodus 20:2-8)
The last 6 commandments are Love for our neighbors as ourselves. (Exodus 20:9-17)
When we keep His commandments we are in harmony with God.
We are able to wear the robe of righteousness of Jesus as He did no sin.
We also show him how much we love him by keeping His commandments.
>John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Today's question is:
What are the three (3) events happen to those who keep His commandments in the book of Revelation? (Chapters 12, 14, 22)
I love the "maneuvering" advice. While out in the woods I treat everything as if it were electrified and if I brush against it I'll get shocked. Also don't forget to have a pair of reading glasses if you need them. You can't deal with the ticks if you can't see them. Happy trails.....
wow sounds like a scary terrible time in the woods, with make-believe of electric shock. How do you find and enjoy cool flora and fauna, or geology?
You are the perfect gentleman Adam, we love you. Don't ever change. We appreciate all the useful information you give us. You're very enjoyable to watch and listen to. There are so many people out here in the world and I talk to them on the Internet strangers complete strangers but yet there's one thing we have in common and that is we all say how much we love Adam on learn your land. Till next time, God bless
This was my first time watching Adam on Learn Your Land and I wanted to leave a post. Looking over the comments, I found you summed up my thoughts early on in your post. My thanks to you... and Adam, of course. Peace and prosperity to you and yours.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Happy Sabbath, believers of God!
Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.
Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, Isaiah 58:13
Be blessed on His holy 7th day and rest with our creator!
Beautifully said. Blessings from an atheist.
Perfect gentleman who likes shaking up with his girl.Perfect pagan gentleman.
Japanese knotweed, Cat's Claw and Lion's mane helped me recover from lyme disease. Andrographis and Chinese skullcap helped a lot too!
A man I used to work for was a helicopter pilot. He spent well above 60,000 dollars getting all his licenses to fly choppers professionally. It was his dream job, he loved it. He got lymes disease and it permanently debilitated him so he can never fly again. Bad disease!
Thank you! I have lived in the Hudson Valley ("Upstate" NY) most of my life and have been treated for Lyme disease 4 times.
Once I had it so bad I needed IV antibiotics and was told I might never walk again. Fortunately, with the help of vitamins, supplements, and a few anti-inflammatory medications I have made an almost complete comeback. I appreciate your educational videos. Especially this one. While I know most of this stuff, it's a helpful reminder and also a great learning tool I can pass on to others. Happy Trails!
Upstate New York is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Seems everyone thinks the entirety of New York is the city. I admit I did as well until I was stationed at ft drum. The people were amazing and super friendly. Honestly hope it never changes
Hi. Can I ask how you were diagnosed or if it was difficult to figure out your diagnosis of Lyme disease? My understanding is that there isn’t a “yes/no” test and that it’s sort of qualitative with regards to symptoms. I’m only tangentially familiar with the subject, but very curious. Thanks!
@@cornkobmansanto17 There absolutely are 2 yes/no tests. But most bone-head doctors tell people they don't have Lyme disease if they don't have at least 12 of the 15 indictors (bands) test positive. It's up to their individual discretion when it's actually pretty black and white. These patients (I was one of them) will go on to become very, very sick and demand to be retested months or years later and will then test positive.
I tested negative initially so I didn't know why I got sicker and sicker and then 1 year later I went to my orthopedist because my knee swelled up 3x the normal size with synovial fluid, which was drained then tested off the charts positive for Lyme (9872 nucleotides(?) that were supposed to be under 167). I had to have a PICC line inserted directly into my heart so the super harsh IV antibiotics could be pumped directly in for a month! It was a really difficult period that actually left me with nearly zero white blood cells and a permanent autoimmune disorder.
I have been told by Infectious Disease Specialists and Rheumatologists that I have Chronic Lyme (or Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome) and will never be the same. Most 'doctors' don't believe in "Chronic Lyme" even though it is identified by the CDC and told me I had "Lyme Arthritis" and will need to take Rx NSAIDs and a host of supplements for the rest of my life. Lyme sucks and I had to advocate for myself for many of the tests and medications, such as: Lumbar puncture (to make sure it had not crossed blood/brain barrier), CT/MRI scans, Halter Monitor for a week (to determine if I had developed "cardiac Lyme"), etc.
Lyme disease is the most underreported, underfunded and understudied widespread debilitating disease there is. It's deadly and ruins people's lives. As do the false negative diagnosis' that doctors dish out with reckless abandon.
The OP had it way worse than me (I'm glad they've recovered), but when it happened to me I kinda blew off the first couple lesions. The spirochetes get into your brain and give you the worst headache ever and make it hard to think straight, but when I noticed I was covered in bright red blotches 3" in diameter I realized I was seriously ill and they were not bug bites. The fever got to about 108 or so and the joints swoll up. Couldn't go to hospital. The bacteria come from white footed mice. It was totally debilitating, but some people foster them without symptoms a long while, which is more dangerous.
Hi Adam, A very interesting video. I have researched ticks and the diseases they carry for over 30 years. I like the way you presented your video and look forward to more. Thank you.
My wife has M S now and I wonder if ticks were involved . Thanks for sharing your knowledge ! Maranatha !
Hi Craig. May I ask if you know the prevalence of Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in North America? I couldn't find a clear answer when hastily searching for it.
Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Happy Sabbath!
Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.
Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, Isaiah 58:13
Love in Christ.
@@_Red_Hand_ I'm shocked that you know this information. The answer is yes, but not at Plum Island. A friend of mine from St. Petersburg, Russia arrived at my lab for a visit. We discussed many things and we got on the subject of Borrelia and DNA matches. Without going into much detail, I was told by my friend (who served in the Russian army during WWII as a scientist) that the bacteria was tested by the Germans. The story he told was shocking and was backed with data that we shared together. It's interesting how the bacteria got to Plum Island, then to Old Lyme, Connecticut.
@@hybridwafer TBE is very uncommon in North America; however, in Western Russia and Eastern Europe it is very common with most Ixodes ticks carrying the virus. We had a guest come to the lab with some vials of Ixodes persulcatus (very similar to N. American deer tick, Ixodes scapularis). There were over 200 ticks collected from different regions and everyone of them was positive.
Now I feel itchy, crawlies all over myself. Thanks for the information.
A fun experiment that I have done in the past to help better understand a ticks reproductive process and ability, is to when I have came across a full plump tick, usually from dogs, is to remove the tick and place it into a secure container, such as a jar with lid, then wait until the tick parishes, from the beginning of its demise it starts excreting hundreds of eggs and babies and throughout its decomposition, it releases thousands upon thousands of near microscopic eggs and hatchlings. It really provides and understanding of how much offspring just one fully feasted mature adult can produce. Its amazing! Stay safe everyone!
Wow! That explains one of the phenomena I have noticed about these hitchhikers. I have seen hoards hop on a friends arm all at once when he reached into a Bush. One tick bit(heh, heh, ) I have k own about is the notion that where ever they hatch they begin to climb and climb and climb until they reach the limit or tip of what ever it is they started climbing. On a bush that could be all on one branch for example Then it is said they park there and can just stay there for a very long time. And if a warm enough creature approached all legs but one begin to flail around trying to latch on I heard. Amazing.
@@kazparzyxzpenualt8111 yes they will also fall from overhead out of tree limbs and such. Soo I don't know exactly how far away they can sense us but here's another little anecdotal experience for you.. I once left my motorcycle helmet in the woods overnight and retrieved it the next day to find there were 7 ticks circulating both inside and out of the helmet, soo it might be they are attracted to a pheromone or something we release through sweat and such. Anyways, thanks for your story and I hope you guys stay safe. And always check for ticks!
@@secretzombie3976 I believe they also nest in tree's I can't remember the species of tree though.,♥️💯
Growing up in Florida, I saw some of the biggest ugly grey ticks in the U.S.. When I was about 9, I was outside at my grandparents house and found some of the most beautiful soft pink cluster of eggs on this very common weed, decided to take it home and place it on the windowsill hoping they would hatch, well they did and it was a bunch of ticks. Horrified, I grabbed a tissue to wipe them up and flushed them down the toilet,lol, never brought any pretty eggs clustered on a weed again,lol. Excellent video, I'm sure whomever sees it will be grateful. Thank you!
I'd be curious to hear why you don't use permethrin or permethrin treated clothes and shoes. They have been extremely beneficial to my family.
Ticks are why I use a hammock when camping out. The buggers generally don't crawl more than a meter up. Understanding how they hunt, which is what they are doing, goes a long way towards avoiding them.
I've had ticks fall out of trees onto me. After that I can't go by the theory you mention.
I had a tick bite me on the top of my head and pulled out out of my hair.
Doctor told me they all carry something, just what.
They can carry by bcs, Epstein-Barr virus, Bartonella also known as cat scratch fever is one of the strains, of course Lyme disease etc
Me last week here in North East Pa @@GypsyBrokenwings
@@GypsyBrokenwings same i was clearing an area for a garden patch weeks ago and watched it happened to my girlfriend
Powdered sulfur.
Back in my Army days we spent a LOT of time crawling in the bush, laying on the ground, sleeping on the ground, etc.
Before going on a patrol out would come coffee cans with 2-3 pounds of powdered sulfur. 4-5 tablespoons goes into a sock, tie a knot in the sock, drop your BDUs and start powdering yourself down. As in everywhere. Also boot tops, legs, waist band, backs, necks, hair, I mean everywhere.
When we started using the sulfur we had no more issues with ticks or chiggers. GONE.
How often do you dust down in a day with the sulphur ?
@@weevix3 Usually just the once before leaving the patrol base for 24 hours. Once a day after that for longer missions
What's the long term effects of sulfur on your skin?
@@JJ-gd7gf I never saw anyone (including me) have any issues at all. Sooooo, try it on a "non-critical" area first but it ought to be ok.
Got my first tick bite of the year- just walking the rough cut grass on a golf course.. they are everywhere, awareness and diligence is definitely key. And maybe a better golf swing and staying on the fairway lol
Glad to see you back Adam! I agree with everything that you said about keeping ticks at bay. Both awareness & inspection are of utmost importance. Be safe out there! 👍👍
I'm glad you mentioned anti-inflammatory diets. After sustaining a horrible back injury due to an auto accident, anti-inflammatory eating has become essential in my pain management strategy. I can immediately feel a difference in my body when I eat something inflammatory like fried foods or sugary foods like breads
What do you eat for anti-inflammatory properties
Turmeric is great
Drinking distill water will draw out those minerals embedded on joints.
Minerals from vegetables absorbed into the body and not as residue to joints
Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Happy Sabbath!
Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.
Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, Isaiah 58:13
Love in Christ.
@@narrowwaytolife4525 ? Could you restate. Distilled water removes contamination, but doesn't stop proper absorption from food ?
60-80 years ago, as a youngster and young man, I roamed south central Michigan and never encountered a tick. Ever. I never encountered a tick in years of roaming the CONUS and parts of the world. Ever. The last 5-7 years they seem to be all over the place. I use permethrin on clothing, sleeping bag, and tent.
I have never heard of ticks being around when there is snow on the ground. A few snow snakes, maybe 😏, but no ticks.
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
I should add, that the aforementioned “snow snakes” are a mixed blessing. W.C. Fields commented that, “I always carry a little whiskey - in case of snake bite. I also carry one, small snake.” 😏
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Thank you for your wisdom on this topic. My health was devastated by Lyme Disease from a bite in 2014. I was the bitten by a deer tick in December 2013 in the Northeast USA. I was not aware of the potential danger. This tick bite, I believe, occurred no more than 10 ft from my back door. I have previously found ticks on me just walking my dog outside the house. It took me over a year and a half to walk again and make reasonable cognitive decisions and have my autonomic nervous system function properly again. I find the information you share here, in my opinion, is incredibly helpful and valid. This helps me to get back out in the woods again more confidently. Thank you!
Please look at Nigella sativa seeds (blach cumin), drink as a very strong tea. Not that I'm using it for Lyme but I read that it has a similar chemical make to a harmless drug that's given to horses as a dewormer but that since K O V I D has been taken out of the market to humans, name starts with 'i'.
Look into Ledum pal homeopathy. It’s great. Also can be given to pets.
@@lambylambcurly Thank you!
I've had a similar encounter with tick borne illness. I'm not at the point where I'm comfortable going off the trail yet but I am back out in nature! So glad to hear you're doing better!
@@leewalczak1724 Thank you Lee. Glad to hear that you
are back out in nature! So important to be able to enjoy that experience again. Wish you the best.
I just found your channel and I’m so grateful for your videos! I’m so excited to watch them all and learn more about our beautiful land and nature. Thank you for sharing and caring.
You're in for a real treat. Adam's videos are top-notch! We watch his videos repeatedly and we always learn something new.
Thank you so much for this video, Adam! I know I'm one of the many LYL students who have emailed you with this very question!
I would like to share one of my strategies for inspecting the body for ticks, especially for ones that have already latched on. After being in the woods, I strip down and do the "feel test". This can be done on dry skin or in the shower. Because even the tiniest of ticks can be felt on the skin. So on dry skin, I run my hands lightly over my entire body and feel for anything foreign. Imagine if you had a single grain of sand on your skin - you would feel it!! When doing the feel test in the shower, I lather up and run my hands over every inch of my body, especially the places you are probably wondering about right now! ;) The fingertips are very sensitive and can detect even the smallest foreign invader.
My husband and I have each found several ticks on ourselves using the feel test alone. But like you said, Adam, I'm not telling anyone how they should check for ticks - just stating what has been working for us!
@ruinsane 100: That's good advice in general. And if it works for you that's wonderful!
But please keep in mind the following:
A mature deer tick is no bigger than a sesame seed.
When the tick bites (latches on), the moment that it pierces the skin, it immediately injects its saliva into your bloodstream.
The tick's saliva actually contains an anesthetic!! Yes, an anesthetic!!
So you do *not* feel the tick bite whatsoever. So, if it is in an area if the body which you cannot actually see, nor touch nor therefore palpably feel with your fingertips, then it most likely will escape your detection.
(Case in point, despite doing the standard visual inspection (after a local hike or a day working in the garden/yard, & despite showering after each possible exposure), several years ago, I discovered (through using a hand mirror vs the wall mirror) a tick embedded in my back, exactly underneath the bra-strap area! 😧
By the time I discovered it, the area was red, swollen & hot to the touch, & the Bulls-eye rash was very clear.
But try as I might, I was unable to reach it with either hand -- it was perfectly situated to avoid my reach, lol! As I was living alone at that time, I had to go to the local E.R. to have it removed & to get a prescription for antibiotics. But by that time, I had already been feeling lousy (headache, malaise, swollen glands in neck, flu-like feeling) for several days. (A few days later, I went to see my L.L.D. naturopath/Lyme specialist for further follow-up & care -- her office is 3 hours drive from where I live. Went back on antibiotics & a complex regimen of herbs, vitamins & minerals).
What most likely happened is that it first got on my body as a nymph or larvae stage -- these are so tiny so as to be almost invisible to the naked eye -- like a flake of pepper, but smaller...
quite impossible to distinguish from a common freckle, if you have any.
So the nymph or larval stage can fall on you (from a tree or a bird flying overhead) & then latch on & then start feeding.
Because of the anesthetic, you don't feel anything until it becomes quite engorged with blood -- by this time, it is big enough to spot with the naked eye or to feel with your fingertips (palpation) --
But, if the tick is carrying L.D. or any of the other possible co-infections, you are already infected.
Fortunately, the fact that you & your husband can check each other gives you a great advantage! 😅
But nonetheless, a nymph or larvae may escape your notice, especially if on the scalp, for example.
For this reason, I suggest adding a few drops of Tea Tree oil to your shampoo & conditioner (add drops to shampoo in the palm of your hand & mix before applying to scalp).
Tea Tree oil may not actually kill the tick, but at least, repels it, as they don't like tea tree oil. 😝
I quit foraging, hunting, and hiking because of ticks here in eastern PA. Just reading about some of the Lyme horror stories, I felt the reward just wasn't worth the risk. I started to become OCD about checking, and ended up stressing out for days after a simple walk through the woods. I have dark hair and lots of it, so it's very easy to miss a tick. It's unfortunate and I've seriously considered moving to a state with low lyme risk, so I can continue enjoying the outdoors.
Sorry to hear this man. I hate ticks too and they are so gross. We just moved to PA, I fished all day everyday for 2 weeks as soon as we moved, got Lyme disease immediately lol. We Vaccinate our pets against it now too. I felt ill for a week or so and the antibiotics were pretty rough too, but once it was gone it was gone. I believe most of the horror stories from Lyme disease are from individuals who ignore the signs symptoms and don’t seek treatment. I was amazed at the volume of ticks here, but these tips are helping me even more to keep them off!
Same. Problem is crazy where I live. I can't go in my backyard without getting multiple ticks on me or my family anymore.
Eastern PA here as well. I carried some rotten wood to edge of the woods and dumped them. I maybe took one step into some grass that came up over my ankles. 5 ticks.
@@DangerRussDayZ6533 Ticks: I see you have chosen death.
I hear you... I'm one who seems to be a tick magnet, myself; all I have to do, is just step outside!
I'm also very paranoid about the possibility of having them on me, so I check myself. However, as you have experienced this, you can get them everywhere on yourself, and, sometimes you cannot feel them moving on your body. (Just yesterday, I had one nearly in my ear, didn't know it, until I happened to rub my ear...!)
Do, yeah I'm stressed and paranoid, but still go outside.. just check very often...
As a surveyor in the Hudson Valley, NY, I have had my run-ins with ticks for many years. Like you, I don't use any chemical repellents, so I've had to seek alternatives. In addition to the steps mentioned in this video, I also drink a daily cup of Cistus tea. Since beginning this experiment a few years ago, I went form 20-30 imbedded ticks a year to maybe 5. Anecdotal, for sure, but I'm convinced of its efficacy. Cheers!
Thats interesting im always in the woods, spring till mid summer are the worst for ticks here in Arkansas I usually wear shorts low boots no shirt that way I can see em attack me, ive cut trails all thru my property which cut back on the ambushes. Ill have to give that tea a shot
Thanks for sharing!
When I'm wearing shorts, and I go out (live in massive tick territory) I smear dish soap all over my legs. Works great, non toxic and helps keep chiggers off too. I started doing this when I got into a chigger bed and had hundreds crawling up my legs. I washed them off with dish soap and it worked so good, I put soap on my legs and didn't get any more the rest of the day. I'm clearing brush, trees and leaf litter on 7 acres. Once I picked off 28 ticks in one day. Only 1 was biting me but since using dish soap it's drastically reduced it.
Any particular brand of dish soap?
Thank you so much for sharing this! God bless you.
Dish soap is pretty bad for your skin.
@@eternalvoid2678 ticks are pretty bad for your life.
As someone who uses medication that is transdermal, I have learned that the skin's surface is like millions of little mouths. What is put on the skin is taken into the body. That goes for lotions, deet, sunscreens, brand-new clothes that are treated with formaldehyde and anything else that is put directly on the skin. Dish soap may have harmful chemicals that could potentially cause systemic harm. Then again, Lyme and other tickborne diseases are probably far worse.
Thank you so much for sharing your vast knowledge and enthusiasm! I also live in PA, probably about an hour or so east from you. The information you have shared over the years has literally saved my life. I've had Lyme for about 28 years and was just diagnosed 6 months ago. I also contracted Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever about 18 months ago. The antibiotics put me in bed for a month. Other treatments made me so sick I was going into liver failure. Diet, taking mushrooms, acupuncture, getting back to nature and hiking are by far the best things for me. Thank you for being a part of my journey! You have helped me more than I could ever express!
Look up Nigella sativa too. And Artemisia Annua. Both recommended especially today because of the weird thing that people are supposed to take all over the world, intravenously.
After trying several tick removal tools, the tick lasso is my favorite. It works on nymphs and large ticks, holds onto them after removal and doesn’t squeeze the tick.
After removal I usually take monolaurin as a precaution for Lyme’s before the bacteria can find shelter in biofilm.
This year I’m spraying my yard with neem oil and a little dish soap as a surfactant (currently using about 2tbsp of neem, 1-2tsp of soap and a gallon of water). I use a battery operated pressure washer that has a connector to a gallon container. So far it seems to be working (from the absence of ticks on my dog after spraying) but it’s too early to say.
Add vaseline to them before you remove them. It suffocates them and keeps the head from staying and causing sores.
"Before tick bite... After tick bite..."
I'm not sure how many others got this reference to the classic Buddhist saying, but I appreciated it greatly! Thanks, Adam!
To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. - Lou Tzu👍
To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. - Lou Tzu👍
I currently live in Arizona and spend a tremendous amount of time outside. I’m moving to Pittsburgh in a few months and have been doing so much research on ticks and have honestly been pretty nervous about this. This video was extremely comforting and helpful. Thank you and really appreciate your channel!
Oh AZ! Tell the sun hello for me. 😎☀️ I was there all of November. Shocking how sunny it is there. Pittsburgh is the opposite
My dad used the "burnt match" trick to dislodge them. I assume everyone knows this one because it is such an old solution. Basically, ignite a match, blow it out, and apply the match while still hot to the tick. Might take a couple of times, but they will emerge. They look like a bubble scab.
That's not recommended anymore because it can cause them to regurgitate into you and give you lymes.
Clear and concise. Exactly what I have done for decades. Emphasis on diet. Thank you!
We are in SW Pa and your video popped up after we had been out in our woods. My husband contracted Lyme last summer, and I DESPISE ticks. Lol, throughout this video every time you show ticks I silent scream "kill it!!!!". New subscriber....cant wait to check out the rest of your content
Lots of people think I'm crazy for doing it, but I prefer to walk through the woods barefoot with shorts. Having bare skin exposed from the feet all the way to the thigh results in a very high sensitivity. If a tick is crawling on me, I am very likely to be able to feel it before I can see it. It has been very effective. I realize people don't like going barefoot, but short socks and bare legs serves a similar purpose. Highly recommended.
I do the same for the same reasons and I catch them right away
I have hairy sensitive legs.. I'm always parionod about something crawling on them. Especially in brush. I don't worry about ticks if I'm not in anything thick.. but we ain't got bad ticks in MI, they can get bad..in areas.
nice natty approach.
@@tyo6896 We do in my part of Michigan.
@@tyo6896 I was about to say that. Hairy legs help to thwart insect bites 🦟
I would love, love, love to see a video (or an entire series) on a low inflammatory diet. Also, medical professional here, deer ticks need to be attached for at least a 24hr period in order to transmit the bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) that causes Lyme Disease. So, as you said post-woods inspection is so very crucial as it gives you plenty of time to remove the tick before it has time to infect you.
Actually, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the time of transmission has reportedly not been well-established. There is an article on the cdc site on this topic with the title: 'Lyme borreliosis: a review of data on transmission time after tick attachment'. We live in an endemic area & unfortunately, I have been aware for some time there should be zero tolerance for attachment as it could result in transmission due to Borrelia being present on tick salivary glands.
@@tammyjoma
From the CDC: "In most cases, a tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted. If you remove a tick quickly (within 24 hours), you can greatly reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease."
www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/index.html#:~:text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20a%20tick,chances%20of%20getting%20Lyme%20disease.
@@tammyjoma This is absolutely true about transmission time and tick born diseases, Lyme and others. Both the science and personal experience bear this out out in pets and people. A 2013 University of Wisconsin study found Lyme in 80% of the dear/bear ticks they collected in northern Wisconsin's Sawyer County. If you've been bitten twice you have likely been exposed. Symptoms might present quickly or in months, sometimes not for years in the youngest and most healthy overall depending on the particular tick born disease. Physicians in the know in our region treat any dear tick bite immediately as if positive for Lyme, anaplasmosis, or ehrlichiosis. Please be aware
Thanks again, Adam. Serving the earth with you here makes it even more rewarding.
Another 1000% completely reasonable, thoughtful, intelligent and engaging video from you! Thank you.
Another great way to help keep all bugs away...NEEM oil! I make a neem soap spray and spritz it on myself before headed outdoors and it's safe for use on pets!(make sure you look for proper measurements when using it for them) my pup didn't have any buggies all summer while I used it.
You are what you eat. I found ingesting garlic does ward off bugs in general. As our skin emits a scent, a normal biting bug does not like garlic. Helped me with flies. And then I realized how in tune how diet is. Great video!
This has to be one of the best videos I've seen. Excellent information, entertaining and very well narrated. Thanks
I appreciate your video, because awareness is vitally important, years ago I was a very avid deer hunter, I also cleared several acres of land with a bow saw back in the 80s. Not once do I ever recall even thinking about ticks and I'll even go one step further. I grew up on a beef & hog farm
Since I love nature so much and will be out in the woods for hours on end, I’m so happy to have found this video, as ticks are a worry of mine. Thank you! 🤝
Mechanical removal of ticks may leave the head in the flesh.
We have utilized essential oils for tick removal. Oregano, peppermint, tea tree, cedar, cinnamon, work. A tiny drop on the tick will motivate it to back out. We use Oregano oil mostly because of its natural antibiotic properties. Also we have no experience with removal of ticks that are well set..E.G. set more than 24 hours and showing signs of engorgement. I would think once set and feeding it may take several drops to persuade the now fat lazy tick to give up its host. Another tip. When in the service we took sulfur tablets beginning a week before maneuvers and during training. This seemed to help. Honestly tick infestation 40 + years ago was no problem. Now it's off the chart! Grew up in Eastern Virginia in the 50s. Lived in the woods....never got a tick. Dogs had them but don't ever remember getting ticked.
Just moved to centra Virginia the end of 2020. The spotted tick will just drop out of a tree. My dog can't go outside In summer to pee without 39 fleas attacking her at the front door. It's bioweapons imo.
Good information. I can verify that peppermint oil works like a charm. The tick will back right out.
Yeah - this was also the urban myth some time ago here in Latvia (same type of ticks as portrayed in the video) - we've even been using regular household butter - it melts and leaves the tick unable to breathe, making it willing to dislodge itself - unfortunately, some sources quote that ticks, when applied oily substances, can vomit their gut content into the flesh opening they've made - thus largely increasing the chance of infection with either encifelatis or lyme disease - because the bacteria causing these diseases are in their stomach.
We used to have more chickens running around then on the farms you don’t see very many farmers especially around the countryside as they used to be.
Please are you saying that sulfur as in onions acts as a natural repellent? What kind of sulfur please?
Great job getting awareness out Adam! It's hard to teach a lifetime of experience/knowledge and you definitely have it mastered!
Today I found the very first deer tick I’ve ever had, stuck to my leg. In 60 years of tromping through the woods I’ve pulled hundreds of wood ticks off of me, but this was my very first deer tick (that I know of). I was surprised because I checked myself for ticks yesterday and actually did find a wood tick but I obviously missed that deer tick because they are so darn small. I needed a magnifying glass to identify it. ( these old eyes just aren’t as good as they used to be).
I'm feeling that eye issue. Thought I had a new freckle yesterday but it was a tick. I was only watering an outdoor flower pot on a cement patio.
What to do with it; If you go to a doctor he may give you antibiotics right away. Well, That is an overly pro active reaction in my opinion. Antibiotics are not something you want to be taking very often, and if you do that every time you pick up a tick, you will be taking them too often. However, if you don't take them when you have been bitten by a limes carrying tick, you may end up paying a terrible price. SOOOO what to do? The labs recommend that you put the tick in a sealed plastic bag and tape it to your calendar, showing the day you were bitten. If you get symptoms over the next two weeks (or later), you send the tick off to have it tested. If it comes back positive you still have time to get treatment. If it comes back negative, you have saved yourself from being over medicated. I have used this method for 20 years and find that it works well.
I live in the woods is SE Pa. Adam and it’s tick heaven here as well. I can certainly relate to diet and ticks and life! Eating healthy as possible, which can become difficult at times, is super important. I’ve never lived in fear of ticks but simply take steps to prevent them. I will never keep me from my own back yard. In this area of Pa we have many Amish farms and they do their best to raise organic chemical free veggies and there are many garden stands. We are very fortunate here in this respect. Thank You for this great video Adam! If people truly understand and follow your steps there should be no fear in enjoying our Beautiful Mother Earth! Peace and Joy of Being! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
I usually carry both a set of tweezers and something called a "tick twister" which I started using last year. The tick twister comes in a pack of two, one for adult ticks, one for smaller ticks and so far they seem to be the best things, although sometimes the tweezers do ok. They go around the tick on either side and as you turn them slowly in a circle the tick releases and simply pops out. I also have a "tick key" on every key chain of both my car and my wife's so that no matter what, no matter where we are, we have something to remove a tick.
TICK TWISTER IS SO UNDERRATED!!!
Had one last year with no tweezers or twister in sight… sunk a knife in and carved him out with the skin around it. Damn awful.
You don't really need a device to do this. I noticed that the ticks burrowed in clockwise, so twist them in an anticlockwise manner and they'll fall off. Aeroguard was useful in killing them before removal.
@@castleanthrax1833 You shouldn't kill a tick before removing it, if it's dead it can release possible contaminated fluids back into your body, not good. Just squish it once you remove it ='p
I have a Tickmobile that I use to fight Tick crime.
This video made me so itchy. Thank you for your service.
I found your channel few weeks ago and been catching up on all of your videos and I am so amazed by all the knowledge you have.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Sweeet thank you so much for posting this, Adam!!
Excellent advice. I would add that eating an alkaline diet (tons of green and other veggies in every form, every meal) for several months after a bite helped me recover from Lyme. Getting rid of gluten and grains and eating organic whenever possible also very important. I am going to get another full length mirror with good lighting for my full body checks multiple times day. Just had a tick crawling on a 50 degree day in FEBRUARY in Maine!!!
Love you’re endings man you’re like poems
Love your message about the importance of diet AND how ticks 'remind' you to stay with it. Well done, I enjoy your videos!!
You read my mind. Believe it or not, a few days ago I was watching your videos and thought one on ticks was something that we'd all appreciate. I wasn't aware it was your most requested video. Thanks!
Glad ur back on UA-cam. I'm from south central PA in fulton county. Lymes disease is bad here. FYI I am a graduate of Penn state in forest science. So I love ur channel
I freaking LOVE your channel Adam, so glad you're back
Thanks for putting the effort into this important video Adam! The season is upon us and education on this topic will hopefully help many!
Encourage possums!
Well done on your course. Yes, we have missed you, and it's good to see you here again.
possums are laden with ticks, often seen in my yard with a few ready to hatch on there head, keeping them out of the yard as a gardener is impossible, i cant even walk outside without later finding multiple lodged in me, im getting so tired of it, they love to eat the leaves and fruit off my fruit trees and basically every plant i grow, i simply cant win lol
Thanks for this Adam! Useful information indeed.
So good. Thank you. Love your work.
You’re right on! This is my strategy and beliefs exactly. Thanks Adam.
I live in upstate NY and this is going to be my first year going out and foraging. I forgotten all about ticks. Glad I ran into this video. Actually quite glad I ran into allot of your videos . Your very knowledgeable and explain in a way that keeps things interesting. Allot of others either are boring and range from not enough info to an overload of info. You reached that happy medium.
And he seems like a very nice, knowledgeable guy. It's a wonder he has a girlfriend!
If I spray my pants legs with deep woods off or some other very high DEET containing repellent, I never get ticks when I do that...even in deertickistan, which is what I refer to brushy areas as... Also, prescribed burning is a very good way to reduce tick populations if not eliminate them.
I totally agree with prescribed burning. Native Americans and early European pioneers kept the forests in open savannah-like conditions by frequent burning. As a consequence there is little mention of tick problems in those times.
I haven’t had much luck with deet but permethrin sprayed clothes have kept me nearly tick free.
i walk out into the yard briefly trying to avoid everywhere where ticks are and ill find a couple lodged into me that night, your positivity is crazy haha
Kansas has tornadoes, California earthquakes, Florida hurricanes, etc. Here in PA, we have ticks.
Great video, we have a lot of deer ticks in our are area and unfortunately my wife contracted Lyme disease last year and has been suffering from it. The diet advice as well as your other advice is greatly appreciated.
Just finished rewatching your videos preparing for the morel mushroom season and then you post this! Thanks Adam. And thank you for the tree identification guide. I was just thinking about how frustrating it is to identify trees from field guides
What’s coincident same here thanks to Adam
As always, thanks for your excellent videos. This one is very informative and you're a great teacher. I always learn from you, Dr. H.! Thanks!
Great video Adam, I would love to hear more about your thoughts/approach to omega 3/6 balance. I’ve always felt this is so important to so many aspects of health (both physical and mental). I appreciate your videos so much, thank you!
Yes, please make a video explaining an anti-inflammatory diet or your diet. I've been changing to eating whole foods to try to heal my gut from antibiotics and C-difficile. We love learning from your channel and have started our own mushroom logs this year! We have been foraging tons of turkey tail and oyster mushrooms with a few reishi and honey mushrooms! So much to learn! Thank you and God bless you!
I would very much like to see your video or series on anti inflammatory and tick-conscious diet. Please consider making that series for us!! Thanks Adam!!!
Thanks for the video. I'd like to add a few points: 1) in upstate NY some of the most active tick days are mid to late winter during thaws; 2) a big vector for tick exposure is hiking with dogs. It's often hard to adequately inspect a dog (especially my 100# black lab) and they will carry ticks back to your home where they may migrate; 3) the CDC recommends a single does of doxycycline after a tick bite. I am not sure you are correct in assuming the faster you remove a biting tick the less exposure you have to the bacteria. I have removed ticks that clearly just bit me and have had a subsequent significant rash.
My husband and I have both done the single dose doxy after deer tick bites, even though we removed them within 24 hours. It was out of an abundance of caution. No rash, no Lyme. I'd rather screw up my gut flora for a little while than risk dealing with much worse.
Found one imbeded in my inner thigh. Tried using Dawn to get it to back out but there was no movement from the tick. Used tick key and the dang head separated off. Went to urgent care and had the head removed. Doxy for 14 days wss prescribed.
Been in these PA woods for about 20 years now and only 2nd tick. We got a dog 2 years ago. She may have brought it in...
I spray Permetherine on my woodsy clothes.
Here in woodsy rural New England we have had episodes of thaws in February where patches of bare ground were interspersed with patches of snow, and after we walked the dogs we found several dozen ticks on each dog. My huge Anatolian Shepherd shepherd has long legs with tight white fur, and it's quite easy to see the ticks as they crawl up his feet, and so he functions as a sort of early warning system for the density of the tick population in any given area. I find myself glancing at his feet every couple of minutes when we are out walking
I had a friend get Lyme even tho the tick was only on her for about five minutes.
The amount of time to walk her dog, spot the tick, get a tool and remove it.
I've been fighting lyme for 10 years or better. I've educated myself extensively on tick borne illnesses (there are many). And I will say your analysis of the tick and its reminder of our shortcomings is very intriguing and accurate. I truly believe If I had the willpower to eat a clean, balanced diet 100% of the time, I'd probably be in remission by now. I'm getting better but it's a slow process. Sugar and junk food is crazy addictive!
Jeff, I'll pray for you. I've heard how debilitating Lyme's disease is. Go cold turkey on sugar elimination and after awhile it's easier to pass up. It also gets to be nauseatingly sweet. Take care and EVERYONE say prayers for Jeff's full recovery! 💕
Thank you so much!!! 💓
Hi Jeff. I’m sorry to hear of your illness. If you don’t mind me asking, what was the diagnosing of Lyme like for you?
My family and I are going through this process now. I don't know if you have tried this but hyperbaric treatment is very very effective in killing lyme when applied with a strategy using multiple modes of attack and healing. (With diet being of particular importance)
I wish you the best of luck and health. Have you looked into poke weed root or RSO?
Great video Adam. You've given me a couple of things to think about.
Thank you for that sound and sage advice, and also for mentioning " leaf litter". I was not aware that ticks could be transported via that median. Keep enjoying Mother Nature, ticks and all.....
Hey Adam as a holistic non toxic approach have you tried Cedarcide? I love the result for me and my pets! Also work with plants/yard. Will you do another video on the anti inflammatory diet?
What is Cedarcide and where can I get it?
Here in the UK the most common tick bites come from sheep ticks, we don't seem to have deer ticks in UK or mainland Europe....as well as Lyme disease ticks here also can also carry tick-borne encephalitis, although again this is much more common in Europe, particularly Scandinavia....but Adam your advice holds true for all ticks of course and is very welcome, particularly the dietary suggestions
They're in Germany! I know someone who got Lyme disease, lot of deer in Berlin
Thank GOD I just joined your channel I just watched the stinging nettle video THANK YOU for this knowledge of our land!!!
VERY well said and done! Thank you!
As someone who got Lyme disease (untreated for 2 months), I do most of those things (only after getting Lyme disease unfortunately). A flash light is very helpful when looking at a body for a tick. I also have used a microscope to confirm what I pull off is a tick or not.
I follow these rules too. Aside from that I utilize essential oils with apple cider vinegar spray concoction as an added strategy... essential oils include tea tree oil, mint, clove, geranium, eucalyptus, and cedar oil. 10 drops each 1/4 cup vinegar to a quart of water. I pour that concoction in to small spray bottles for handy carrying into the woods. I usually do a spray from head to toe about every 2 hrs.
Do you spray this on your skin or clothes?
@@cornflowertoile3026 on my clothes. I do spray it on my hands and wipe my head down too. I wear high socks, and make sure they get soaked. I've never had a skin irritation. But I'd be going out on a limb to say it's OK to apply it on ones skin ie. Allergic reactions etc.
Have you ever caught a tick and experimented to see if the oils actually work?
@@woodstream6137 I use it as more of a repellent.
I so enjoy your videos and learn so much from you. Love from Beaver County Pa.
You are a master communicator. Thank you!
Awesome video!! As someone who has struggled with Lyme disease for almost 4 years, an anti inflammatory diet is definitely the key to me feeling well and living a normal life. Also, Lyme bacteria love sugar, so a low sugar diet is great for minimizing Lyme symptoms. Many lyme literate medical doctors preach about how important anti inflammatory diets are! I wish I knew all of the things I know now before I went hiking in the woods and got bit. This is such helpful information for anyone who spends time outdoors, thank you for bringing awareness to this topic!
I think people should also tuck their pants under socks and tie a string around the sock to stop the ticks. Spray some product there and on footwear to dissuade the ticks...this seems practical good advice while also doing the checks afterward and putting clothes in the dryer. I showered after coming in from working under trees and high grass and found a tick on the shower floor, so bathing right away in good hot water and soap as well or showering it would seem is also a good step.
What kind of anti-inflammatory diet do you follow. I've been wanting to try a keto carnivore for a while.
This doesn't really make sense biologically, you can eat ZERO sugar and ZERO carbs and still have plenty of glucose in your blood stream. And if you are just looking at a low sugar diet, you could very well have a high amount of glucose in your blood stream regardless. Your body is made to run on glucose, and it will get glucose from many various means, even if you don't directly eat sugar.
Japanese Knotweed tea 👍
@@TheLloyz meat is inflammatory... Also the lone star tick makes people who eat any amount of red meat violently sick...
Still remember you from Mantic Ritual! Good advice of course! Caught Lyme disease last year during my work. No fun at all, actually a lot of people get it and don't even know, I also hadn't any signs of a bite or anything but I got so tired all the time it was unreal. Greetings from germany!
I spend a great deal of time in the Wood, in Northern Michigan and I have found the places to avoid are areas that are swampy in the spring, but tend to dry up by late summer, small lake areas can be a problem as well. Adam your series is of immeasurable value, I started out like you, but have let a lot of knowledge slip though my fingers in time, but I'm right back on my game after one of your video's and often find myself reviewing some old material. Thanks much, truly love your interests and sincerity.
I've lived in west MI my entire life, out in the countryside. As a child I spent most of my free time in the woods, oftentimes in shorts and flipflops. I've never seen a tick that wasn't on sickly feral animals. I always assumed they were rare. I'd use mosquito spray since THOSE aren't rare here, but I never worried about ticks. I wonder if the well-drained sandy soils + higher than average residual pesticides in this area just make the area inhospitable for them?
Outrageously knowledgeable young man ..... SUPERB.
Thank you! This is a potentially life saving video. Much appreciated. Personally, I use a tick removal tool. If you squeeze the tick at all they will regurgitate back into you which is going to be a huge problem. And even the tool needs to be used properly. A 1/4 tun is needed to remove the head. Never put a cigarette or lotion, chemicals that can cause the tick to regurgitate.
While mosquitoes and other biting insects swarm me, ticks seem to never bite me, the only time I’ve been bitten by one, it was in my bellybutton and was dead when I found it. I’ve even found ticks in my couch that have crawled on me. I also follow the same principles you outline in this video, just accepting that ticks are inevitable. I routinely check my dogs every 20-40 minutes and remove ticks before they manage to bite. Being aware of what areas ticks are likely to bite in is very useful as well.
I agree 100% and thank you. Love your channel .
I love your videos! They are so helpful and you have a great personality
Living in northern Vermont for most of my life I can confirm tick issues 12 months of the year. Like you I spent a lot of time in the woods and had one or two dogs along with me most of the time. While I was picking as many as a dozen ticks off of the dogs after a walk in the woods I rarely had any ticks on me. In my entire life (I'm 70 now) I can only remember 3 ticks that actually attached to me and maybe a handful that I found crawling around.
Your strategy is spot-on from my perspective. Awareness is primary in this process as it passively directs the rest of the protection methodology. Thanks Adam.
Oh man, I wish I were only picking a dozen ticks off my dogs after a walk. I'm on Cape Cod, and last fall I was picking 70 to over 100 ticks off my golden retriever after each ~45 minute walk in the woods. It's just insane here.
@James Minetti: Hello, neighbor! Wow, you must be extremely lucky then, if you've only had 3 latched-on ticks in your entire life!
My children & I used to have a large farm in upstate New York, where L.D. is endemic. Ticks were everywhere on our land.
My sons used to spend a huge amount of their free time in the woods & fields, hunting, fishing & trapping. Myself & my children spent countless hours in our hayfields (tall grass, lol!), pastures (cows, goats & sheep), etc., & the woods (logging, & exploring). We all got ticks, on a regular basis.
Every time I let the girls ride their horses, they came home with ticks crawling on them. It got so bad that they had to give up riding their horses. We also had work horses (Belgians) -- ditto, for ticks. After being in the woods hunting, my sons would come home crawling with ticks.
We developed a complex routine whereby the boys would get undressed on the front (enclosed) porch, put their clothes into a large garbage bag (which they would hand to me or one of my daughters to take straight to the laundry), & then, wrapped in a clean towel, they would head upstairs for a long hot shower, & self-examination, too, of course.
(We all followed a similar routine, including doing head, neck & scalp examinations on each other, plus doing armpit checks as soon as anyone came in from the woods or the fields, every day.)
Meanwhile, their contaminated clothing went straight into the washer, got washed in hot water, with a liberal amount of *tea tree oil* added to the water. Then, their clothes got dried in the *electric dryer on highest heat setting* for *30-minute minimum* (longer is better).
Despite these & many other precautions (keeping our heads & hair covered up with bandanas/scarves) *all of us* got latched-on tick bites, at one time or another.
(I myself have had 11 documented latched-on tick bites, over approximately a 10-year period, since I began keeping track). Got primary L.D. very bad -- was almost crippled by its effects on my hips, spine & S.I. joints, plus heart, spleen & brain involvement. I was not diagnosed until late stage, due to factors beyond my control. By then, I had multiple organ involvement. Later on, I also got 2dary & tertiary infections, lol.
Over the years, we lost several family dogs to L.D. & several horses. Of my 7 children, 4 got tested for L.D. All 3 of my youngest daughters + one of my sons tested positive for L.D. Each of my 3 youngest daughters eventually received a 1-year intensive course of antibiotics plus an herbal regimen. My son received only a few weeks worth of doxycycline (he was being treated for a different condition) & he chose to refuse further treatment. To this day, he has problems with his knees.
L.D. is a serious & potentially totally debilitating disease. So if you live in Vermont & have spent all of your life out in nature, without any problem, then you are extremely lucky!! -🍀
(perhaps even blessed!! 🙏)u
@@ClaraMagdalenaofQumran Like mosquitos I think that ticks are more attracted to some of us more than others. Speaking strictly for myself my lifestyle is less-than-ideal, being somewhat overweight and on certain medications as I grow older. I have also smoked cigars fairly regularly since I was in my mid-20's. Maybe I'm just not all that attractive to ticks ! :-) I also fed my dogs the BARF diet and treated them with tick meds and collars. Adam speaks of dietary approaches that may both offend ticks and heal the body should a tick attach itself. While this is purely subjective at this point it may have some basis in fact.
I wish you the best in your battle with these little bastards.
@@briannelson2006 Hey, Brian, please see my comment above to James Minetti.
One thing that I have found in really effective -- and safe -- for keeping ticks off of dogs is cedar oil. 🐶
In particular, a product known as Cedarcide. It is 100% natural *and* very effective (not tested as safe for cats, however). You can also spray the cedar oil on your socks (cuffs), shoes/boots, pants, etc. I also spray it on a headband, bandana and/or hat before heading out into the woods or the mountains. Be sure not to get the cedar oil in your eyes (or other sensitive areas). Spray on bandana before putting it on your head. 😉
@@jimbtv Hmmm....Cigars! That's an interesting note! Perhaps your blood contained trace amounts of nicotine which was repelling the ticks!?! And yes, I agree with you. I have long suspected that there are some yet-unknown factors which determine who attracts ticks & who doesn't. My personal theory is that it may have something to do with blood type. My children & I took all kinds of precautions & yet, we repeatedly got ticks, over & over again.
Our neighbor & his sons who lived immediately to the north of & adjacent to our farm, who also had woods, fields, pastures & a few farm animals, said they never got any ticks! Which I found hard to understand, as they had the same rural & farming lifestyle as we did, & their land & ours were virtually identical, except for the property line between us, lol!
And yes, we have had the same problem with mosquitoes. Here in the green mountain state, of course, we also have black flies & no-see-um's!! I have to try very hard to avoid black flies & no-see-um's, as I get very sick overall if I get bitten by one of them. 😤
There's a simple fix for ticks around your property. There's a species of chicken that loves to eat them all day long. I think they are called Ginny Fowl. See the TV show Homestead Rescue for the name of the species of chicken. They had a homestead with a similar problem.
Guinea fowl. Also hellacious watchbirds.
Great info! I'm in western MD. Loved all the comments too. Thanks everyone.
Excellent presentation. Thank you.
We've had issues with ticks dropping from trees. Taking the garbage out in January, one of us got a tick on the wrist. The only possible source was the 40ft hemlock over the trash cans.
Another time, in December, i visited my camp in Jefferson County. I walked the edge of the property which took all of 10 minutes. The land has a canopy of really old hemlock, and few barren hawthorn. When I got back in the car, I noticed a tick on my hand. While attempting to kill it, I saw another one crawling around my wrist, going up under my shirt cuff. I turned the engine off, jumped out of the car, and stripped- to my waist. I killed the two ticks that i had first found, then continued searching for more. Standing in the middle of the road with my tshirt, shirt, & sweater on the hood, and my pants at my ankles, I searched EVERYWHERE. Not finding any more ticks, I got dressed and resumed my 90 minute trip home.
Upon arrival at home, we decided it would be prudent to do a second search. Wouldn't you know it, that we found three more of those nasty creatures: one on my chest, one on my back, and one between my shirt & sweater. None were imbedded. After that, -all my clothes went into the washer, and I went into a hot shower.
Locally, we've found that our favorite hiking parks, Harrison Hills, & Hartwood Acres, are infested. We cover, watch where we walk, use a limited amount of spray, and still find ticks when we search ourselves back at the car, but almostly exclusively on our 9yo.
@Lee Mason: If you don't mind sharing, where do you live?
And yes -- ticks falling from trees -- That is because, in addition to mammals such as white-tailed deer & white-footed mouse, *birds* carry ticks, too.
@Lee Mason: I/we (myself & children) have had many similar experiences, where we have taken all possible precautions. Then, we head out for a local hike, get back to the car afterwards, find ticks crawling on hand or neck or sleeve, or all of the above -- then, do tick checks on each other....
Then, get in car, find tick crawling up arm or neck....
Go home, strip, examine self & buddy, put clothes in washer (hot water wash + tea tree oil), then, take hot shower & shampoo, etc.
Then, a couple days later, I start to feel really lousy....eventually, discover a tiny embedded speck, embedded on my mid-back, directly underneath bra strap area, where I cannot reach it......Cannot reach it to remove it, the area is already highly inflamed with hot, reddened raised skin + Bulls'-eye rash....
This is the one of the most recent tick bites I have received. Had to go to E.R. to have it removed & to get a prescription for antibiotics.
Needless to say, I am spending less & less time in the great outdoors than I used to, as this is a high price to pay for my love of nature (hiking, wild foods foraging, mushroom hunting, medicine plant collecting)....
I even get ticks from working in my yard &/or garden/raised beds. 😕
@@ClaraMagdalenaofQumran we live in Adam's neck of the woods, not far from Pittsburgh. Up until 2019, we had few issues with ticks in Allegheny County, except for the 9yo. But what we found was that we had traded ticks at one park, for poison ivy at a different park, which eventually devolved into issues with poison ivy AND ticks at the second park.
@@ClaraMagdalenaofQumran story to hear that you got Lyme disease. I hope that you don't have any lasting effects.
We have curtailed our outdoor activities to hiking a paved trail with wide swaths of cut grass flanking either side. I don't know how Adam manages to keep himself tick-free, although I guess technically I have been "tick-free" as well, not having any embed in me, ever, that I can think of: crawling on me, yes, but never embedded. The rest have had embedded ticks but we were able to find and remove those promptly.
@@leemason4024 Ah, that's rough, I'm sure! What a choice! But if I were you, I think I would opt for the exposure to the poison ivy versus the ticks.
As a child, I was hypersensitive to poison oak & poison ivy. And as my family & I all loved spending time in nature, I got 1 case after another throughout my childhood & growing up years (always requiring a trip to the MD/dermatologist for cortisone injections & creams, & antibiotics).
No one else in the family had this reaction, lol. 😕
Both of my sons inherited this same hypersensitivity. One of them has even had to be hospitalized due to extreme complications from a poison ivy infection triggering a life-threatening systemic auto-immune disease (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome).
Love it..Would really love to see some episode's on anti-inflammatory foods. I do my best to do this also and when I fall short and eat stuff that isn't good for me I severely suffer physically and mentally. Diet should be number one having a good life. Thank you for a very informative video as always. Your a great teacher and role model. Take care.
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