This Texas Boy Scout has created a fantastic website about how to drag for ticks as his project to earn his Eagle Scout award and to create greater awareness of Lyme disease in Texas.
Be sure to click on the tab *About Michael* at the top of the page to read this young man's story about his remarkable recovery from late-Lyme after getting sick from a tick bite at Boy Scout camp five years ago. That's what makes this project such a fantastic human interest story.
Also be sure to click on the other tabs to learn more about tick dragging.
Does anyone know if there are any other similar tick testing labs in other states? What about the new lab in California which offers free tick testing? (I should know the answer but I don't. Shame on me.)
If so, then this idea could easily catch in in other areas of the country where the CDC says that there is "no Lyme disease" in this part of the country -- which is what they are teaching in medical schools down here in the South.
Pass this story along to other Lyme disease internet forums and FaceBook groups. This idea deserves wide-spread attention, especially in areas of the country where there is a strongly entrenched "no Lyme disease here" mentality.
Posts: 4563 | From TX | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
Sounds like a great project! I wish the idea would spread to scout troups across the country!
The new CA place for tick testing might be via the Bay Area Lyme Foundation - google for them and ask them.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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TX Lyme Mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3162
posted
Yes, that's it, Robin. I don't know why I couldn't think of it myself. Thanks for replying.
We don't need this special resource here in Texas because we already have our own tick testing lab in our state, but it's good to know where others outside of Texas can send their ticks for testing.
Posts: 4563 | From TX | Registered: Sep 2002
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momintexas
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Wow, this is great. Thank you for sharing.....will pass this on!
Posts: 1408 | From Tx | Registered: Nov 2009
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- This reminds me of the scout that did an experiment with DRY ICE, and the ticks really came out of the shadows.
A reminder to all - and a reminder to all to teach all those we know:
Avoid Dry Ice when picnicking, camping, etc.
Some video links as to exactly what happens can be found with a Google search for:
ticks "dry ice" -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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TX Lyme Mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Good point, Keebler, about dry ice. It emits CO2, which is an attractant for ticks. Remember, CO2 is what we exhale and that's how ticks find us, too, by sensing our presence from the increased CO2 levels.
Professional tick draggers know this and they sometimes employ dry ice into their tick collection methods, but I doubt that we would want any of our young Boy Scouts messing around with dry ice during their tick drags -- for plenty other good reasons besides the most obvious one of endangering themselves.
Posts: 4563 | From TX | Registered: Sep 2002
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Update -- unfortunately, the site TX Lyme Mom first posted is no where around. It's vanished. I cross search many ways.
Still, a reminder - or news to some - do not take dry ice to a backyard BBQ or picnic in a park.
And, when Halloween rolls around, even then, be mindful that ticks are attracted to the CO2 (carbon dioxide) "fog" that dry ice emits when exposed to air.
CO2 flagging - an improved method for the collection of questing ticks
Parasit Vectors. 2012; 5: 125. - -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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TX Lyme Mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3162
posted
Keebler, The date on that post was 2.5 years ago. The Boy Scout who organized a state-wide tick drag in Texas, in order to earn his Eagle Scout award has long since graduated from high school and has entered college, so it's not any surprise that he took down his webpage after this project had been completed.
Good point, Keebler, about your reminder not to carry dry ice to a picnic in Lyme-infested areas. Thanks for that reminder.
Posts: 4563 | From TX | Registered: Sep 2002
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Oh, it was his own web page. I thought it had been an article in a some kind of publication which usually can be found for years.
Thanks for the explanation.
It came to my mind because I just ordered something that is being shipped with dry ice. No picnics for me to attend, however, and I won't waft it at the trees off my deck! -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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