[Fultonius]

Have you been bitten by ticks much before? I have probably gotten a bit blase about it, especially locally. If I find one on me I remove it asap with a tick hook, clean area with strong antiseptic, put the tick in a ziploc and keep an eye on the spot as well as keep track of my general health. If I'm fine after a couple of weeks I bin the bag plus tick, if eveyone sent them in for testing they wouldn't be able to cope. Maybe I've just been lucky, but have a few on me every year.

Yeah, plenty, but the more I hear about lyme's the more concerned I get. Wish someone would put some more effort towards developing a vaccine.

[SA Chris]

I think things like Ebola and Malaria are a bit higher on the priority list

[Fultonius]

Thought they'd nailed Ebola?  We can always avoid them by staying in the UK! Well, for now...

[SA Chris]

NIMBY!

[Fiend]

I've tended to use a scalpel and slice them out very quickly, preferring to take a bit of skin off than leave a bit of tick in.

Ugh. Seems I was a bit overconfident with my method. Had one on my thigh today from Creag Dubh yesterday. Sliced it off but not accurately enough so had a bit left in for a couple of minutes that I had to dig out properly. Hadn't squeezed the body when i initially sliced it though. Is there any course of action I should take apart from keeping aware of possible symptoms e.g. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/pages/introduction.aspx

[Adam Lincoln]

Alternatively do an Adam Lincoln and do a hanging belay at the base of the crag above the grass/ferns.

I do seem to attract them though! And after three years in Scotland, and having well over 300 found on me, i've never had a bite!

[Fiend]

This is why I bloody got one! Barrier wall without you as bait to distract them 

[Fultonius]

I slathered insect repellent on my arms, legs etc. and didn't pick up any in one evening & morning there on the weekend. Might be coincidence but I'm going to try and be more strict with it in future.

[tomtom]

Yes I've seen insect repellant used for anti tic purposes before. Spray works well for that..

[tregiffian]

In their eagerness to improve habitat for the choughs with the Heath Project the National Trust and RSPB have encouraged a variety of animals around Bosigran which have brought the tick problem with them. I have no easy answers.

[SA Chris]

I've tended to use a scalpel and slice them out very quickly, preferring to take a bit of skin off than leave a bit of tick in.

Ugh. Seems I was a bit overconfident with my method. Had one on my thigh today from Creag Dubh yesterday. Sliced it off but not accurately enough so had a bit left in for a couple of minutes that I had to dig out properly. Hadn't squeezed the body when i initially sliced it though. Is there any course of action I should take apart from keeping aware of possible symptoms e.g. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/pages/introduction.aspx

Follow recommended medical guidelines and get a tick hook? DEET is a known effective repellant.

[lagerstarfish]

keep off the moors, stick to the roads

[tomtom]

In their eagerness to improve habitat for the choughs with the Heath Project the National Trust and RSPB have encouraged a variety of animals around Bosigran which have brought the tick problem with them. I have no easy answers.

Every walking party (or those getting to the crag) needs is a 'Fiend on a lead'.. Attractively fitted out in red camo uniform, the 'Fiend on a lead' will bushwack a trail in front of your party and in the process attract all nearby ticks to its person - leaving your group tick free!!

Upon return, simply place the 'fiend on a lead' in the supplied autoclave and set to sterilise. Then use again!

*please note the thrash metal noise effects during the sterilisation are part of the process.

[Johnny Brown]

In their eagerness to improve habitat for the choughs with the Heath Project the National Trust and RSPB have encouraged a variety of animals around Bosigran which have brought the tick problem with them. I have no easy answers.

That is worrying. Are they aware of the problem or their effect on it? Round here those groups are very good at taking a lead on this stuff.

[Fiend]

Follow recommended medical guidelines and get a tick hook? DEET is a known effective repellant.

Blimey it took someone that long to do the predictable "use the proper tick removal thing"?? Yeah I worked that out in retrospect.

What I meant was, any advice following on from having been bitten and not having done an immediately neat removal??

Tomtom - Hah! TBH they rarely get me, I think due to the stockings. You really need an Adam Lincoln in lime green and bright blue arcteryx sponsor wear, I think club techno and trance is part of the sterilisation process.

[SA Chris]

What I meant was, any advice following on from having been bitten and not having done an immediately neat removal??

Antiseptic cream, keep an eye on where it bit, and your general health. Hang onto the dead tick in case anything goes wrong, or post to the address R-man put up earlier.

[SA Chris]

As if the diseases weren't enough to deal with.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/anaphylactic-shock-warning-over-highland-tick-bites-1-3866801

[SA Chris]

keep off the moors, stick to the roads

.....and best of luck to you. (Did you know Rik Mayall is in that bit?)

[fatdoc]

In this day and age I'd avoid any antibiotics unless medically prescribed.

[galpinos]

There a pretty sad article about a guy's partner who has Lyme's disease (that went diagnosed so untreated) in the most recent issue of Alpinist. It'll make me feel less blase when I've got an infestation like last time.....

[SA Chris]

If you want to read more, here's my friend Nicola's blog (i think I've linked to it before)

http://lymeywifey.blogspot.co.uk/

[Fultonius]

This came up on my facecrook feed. Please sign and share - can't be that hard to get it up to 10,000 and at least get a government response. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/113475

[mrjonathanr]

done.

[SA Chris]

+1