I've always considered ticks as something to be aware of if I see one but the risk of Lymes and encephalitis seems very small still, certainly no larger than numerous other risks. I certainly don't religiously check my dog or myself after every trip outside. Should I?
I’ve found loads in the bed over the last year.
Quote from: James Malloch on July 10, 2023, 03:20:22 pmI’ve found loads in the bed over the last year.That is without question the most horrific thing I've ever read on this forum. Thanks for the nightmares. How the hell do you sleep at night?!
Quote from: Bradders on July 10, 2023, 05:05:16 pmQuote from: James Malloch on July 10, 2023, 03:20:22 pmI’ve found loads in the bed over the last year.That is without question the most horrific thing I've ever read on this forum. Thanks for the nightmares. How the hell do you sleep at night?!
I find it fully mental to even think about checking myself or the dog for ticks every time I pass through vegetation
Yeah, it sounds bad in the peak based on the stories below. Thinking about it I've checked when I've been in Scotland before but never bothered in England. I probably do avoid walking through bracken as well so maybe I've just ended up not exposing myself by not climbing on as much esoterica. Food for thought anyway.
I'm not trying to dismiss anyone's point of view but I find it fully mental to even think about checking myself or the dog for ticks every time I pass through vegetation or brush against a plant, let along strip off every time I walk through long grass. Possibly I'm lucky in that I think I've only ever found a couple on me by chance, so maybe they don't like me, but I simply cannot be arsed to go to that level of effort.
I guess I think we're comparing apples with pears comparing your average UK area with what sounds like a tick hot-spot in Austria (may be wrong, can't be bothered to Google)? Agree it sounds like the paranoid style is the way to go in that context, maybe less so in most areas of England?
Really? Lymes and ticks are present in the UK, in most regions, Scotland, Lakes, Snowdonia and now sadly the peak, not to mention other moorland areas such as Dartmoor, albeit some more than others. And yet another anectode, but I was on Raven Crag in Thrilmere on a hot sunny day a few years ago. Its sadly somewhat overgrown these days and the single bit of tat on the abstation looked rotten as hell, so we opted for the overgrown descent path down the RHS. I had 8 ticks on me when I got back for a shower. I was wearing long trousers. Mate had 40! on him, he was in shorts and a vest top. It was that experience that really put the willies up me.
They clearly aren't comparable. The presence of ticks isn't the relevant thing, its surely the likelihood that the ticks are carrying Lyme?
And yet another anectode, but I was on Raven Crag in Thrilmere on a hot sunny day a few years ago. Its sadly somewhat overgrown these days and the single bit of tat on the abstation looked rotten as hell, so we opted for the overgrown descent path down the RHS. I had 8 ticks on me when I got back for a shower. I was wearing long trousers. Mate had 40! on him, he was in shorts and a vest top.