It's Tick Season

[L Roebuck]

I forgot to mention that while we were out ridgewalking last Saturday the Ticks were out in full force. Apparently it is already tick season in the southeastern U.S. Time to start using tick repellents such as DEET, Herbal Repellents, Avon’s Skin-So-Soft, Citronella oil, Permethrin, Garlic, etc, etc.

Any cavers care to comment on the tick repellent that works the best?

[Azurerana]

pretzlgirl said:

I forgot to mention that while we were out ridgewalking last Saturday the Ticks were out in full force. Apparently it is already tick season in the southeastern U.S. Time to start using tick repellents such as DEET, Herbal Repellents, Avon’s Skin-So-Soft, Citronella oil, Permethrin, Garlic, etc, etc.

Any cavers care to comment on the tick repellent that works the best?

1)Staying inside. 2) Duct tape Around cuffs, and for removing seed ticks from leg hair. 3) long legged/sleeved cotton clothes.


Actually Permanone on clothes then drying them overnight) plus strong DEET (like Deep Woods Off) seems to limit them to one or two. We're hopeful that 16 out of 21 days straight with it never reaching 32 degrees in Jan-Feb will be useful as well.

We were out yesterday in weedy woods at Latitude 37 degrees 30 minutes and never saw a one.

Ticks only slightly bother me. Now chiggers--that's another story.

[L Roebuck]

Unfortunately I seem to attract every tick and chigger within a mile radius. I rely on the herbal repellents or Avon’s Skin-So-Soft since I seem to be allergic to other repellents.

[Sharon Faulkner]

The herbal preventatives do not work for me. I have to use Off or Deep Woods Off to prevent massive chigger infestations and mosquito bites all summer long.

I've actually found ticks crawling up my arms as I was getting on rope to rappel before. I imagine we'll have a really bad season since we've had very little cold weather this year. A few days below freezing here and there, but nothing that would kill off some of the little buggers.

[Brian Roebuck]

Yep
Ticks and Chiggers = Tiggers

I hate Tiggers in all forms. They love me though. I think some got me already last Saturday. Sore slightly itchy red spots. Yuck. This could be a bad year for them since it has been pretty warm around here.