If I put gumboots on to rake the leaves, will I have protection from ticks?
Last year, raking leaves I got lyme.
I am scared to rake the leaves again.
Do gumboots offer any protection, or will the ticks just grab on and climb up the boots anyways?
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
I got bit on my upper arm twice, while having sleeves (and wearing natural repellent after the first time of getting bit). I still don't know how the tick got up there.
I was by tall grass, but never even walked through it (avoided it actually). I did see deer both time though.
If you can tolerate a good tick repellent, I'd spray your boots and clothing really well before raking.
Posted by beaches (Member # 38251) on :
What the heck are gumboots?
Doesn't matter much to me as I no longer venture into the yard to plant or rake.
I used to be out there all the time planting all kinds of flowers and shrubs and cutting the stems to bring inside. I also used to grow tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries. No more. It just isn't worth the risk.
Posted by LymeSwimmer (Member # 40540) on :
I think ticks could probably climb up anything.
I would suspect that even though the gum boots are impervious that the tick can climb over the top of the boot and down into your foot or keep climbing to find a gap somewhere in your clothing including your neck or face
But maybe a gum boot of something similar sprayed with permethrin would offer a good level of protection
Posted by RC1 (Member # 31923) on :
I read somewhere that ticks drop themselves on to hosts. They can detect the carbon dioxide. I will not hike anymore. When I have to go in grass I wear my wellies, they are like gum boots.
[ 11-23-2013, 08:15 AM: Message edited by: RC1 ]
Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
The boots are probably good for the area they cover, but I would still plaster myself with a good repellent.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
Maybe use a leaf blower to cut down on raking time.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Thanks for the feedback.
Nope I just can't do it. I can't even walk on the cement with leaves on it anymore without doing a tick check when I come in.
I am super sensitive to smells now-even unscented bug spray bothers me.
I can't take the chance. I know they are out there.
My friends call it a phobia. I call it PTSD.
What I need is a space suit...
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
I don't blame you. I don't rake anymore either if I can help it. I do limited raking to get piles out of the walkways and hire a company with a blower to handle the rest.
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
I agree about hiring someone. The neighbors came by and used leaf blowers around the house the other day. Maybe my house was becoming an eyesore. LOL
I can't tolerate repellents either. Have someone else do the work. It's not worth the stress.
It's definitely not a phobia. After being bitten twice even after taking precautions, I'd say it's a real fear and it's good that you're thinking ahead.
Keep doing it, it'll keep you from being reinfected.
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
I think this is a worse time of year than the spring and summer because the ticks hang out under the leaves and there are many nymphs out there now.
Use permethrin on all of your outdoor clothing including your socks and shoes/boots. I use tall white socks and tuck my pants in and then put rubber boots on. I wear a treated bandana around my neck and a treated hat. I know I must look totally ridiculous, but I won't take any chances.
We are moving to a condo in January so I don't have to do yard work anymore. I have lost my passion for gardening since getting sick. Sad how this can change your life in so many ways.
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
This time of year the nymphs are not the issue. Depending on where you live if you have had a frost etc will make some difference in tick activity. This article further down explains the life cycle. http://www.aldf.com/deerTickEcology.shtml Posted by Anthropologista (Member # 35483) on :
I'm planning to rake the leaves next weekend, and was thinking of just doing a complete body check afterwards.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Oh gosh Anthro!
Please load yourself up with repellent and cover your hair and neck and wear gloves.
Like dbpei said, "look ridiculous". It's true! Better to look ridiculous than to get lyme!
I still can't figure out why ticks haven't become Public Enemy Number One.
They are to me.
I quit gardening also. I had two wonderful veggie patches and a beautiful flower patch. Full of fragrant and colorful perennials. They were raised beds. I used to sit on the side and eat lunch.
Any excuse to go out there and dig in the dirt.
Sigh.
It's not worth the risk. Too many ticks where my patches were.
And my poor dog.
I see I'm feeling morose today, sorry folks.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I love concrete.
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
My sister recently let her dog out to do his business. In 10 minutes the dog had 12 ticks on him. That is more than 1 tick a minute.
I agree, there are too many ticks! I don't venture into the grass anymore, but if I needed to this is what I do.
What I would do is to spray your boots on the foot portion with tick repellent & you can brush on some baby oil on the top 3-4 inches. The baby oil will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible for them to climb up on.
It would be awesome if you had a line of demarcation right below the 3-4 inches of baby oil, so as to prevent drip. Mine do & if yours don't you may consider stitching a layer on.
I have also thought about doing 3 layers. Bottom tick repellent, then baby oil, & then Vaseline. The latter two are pretty cheap & you should be good, provided you don't touch any bushes, leaves, go through taller grass (above your boots) or go under trees.
The only other way you can get one on you is if:
-A gust of wind hits & one flies on your pants or shirts.
-If the grass is too long, they may try to jump on you higher than your boots.
-If you rake too hard & with too much force toward you & push one above your boots.
-If you are using a blower, be careful for back wind that sends the dirt, leaves, & tick right back at ya.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Ticks are monsters!
At this point I'd take on a busload of zombies before I would take on a lyme and coinfected tick.
That babyoil is a good idea on the gumboots.
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
Ellen, thanks for the informative article. I thought the extremely tiny ticks I have been finding on my cats were nymphs in the past few weeks. They were so small, we needed a magnifying glass to be sure they were ticks.
I guess they must be young ticks. The funny thing is, we went all summer without finding any on them and now my cats are coming in a few x per week with them. I attributed this to the fallen leaves. But really not sure.
We are combing our cats and checking ever so carefully! We had been getting our yard sprayed with a pyrethrin based spray. Last one was done in October. I may call to get another application before we move.
All I know is I don't want any exposure to them!
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
Wow, we never treated at all this year and never found one tick. I'm surprised you are finding so many and if so that small. Are you sure they are ticks?
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
Absolutely, positively, without a doubt, these are deer ticks.
![[Frown]](frown.gif)