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Originally posted by Toppers:
I have gotten lots this year just walking thru low cut grass. Past years it took a walk in woods to get one. Found a bunch just hanging out on my car rims the other day.

Ecological change

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This is scary as I'm also in Ohio. Yes, for me it was always the woods, too. I got my bites in woods as an adult and playing out in the country in long grass when I was a kid.

I have been particularly careful this year because of all the rain. The grass is healthy from all the rain. When I go to my kids' softball games, I'm wearing cowboy boots to discourage ticks from climbing on my legs. I figure it takes a little more work to get to my skin with boots. Then I sit on a chair with my feet off the ground on the bar of the chair. And that's the only time I even go in the grass. For the home games, I can sit on the pavement.

So far so good .... none of the kids have gotten them either (so far).
 

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Posted by onlyflippin (Member # 32260) on :
 
Jeez I need to answer my own question, It was while I was hunting. I think
 

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Posted by norcal (Member # 29829) on :
 
Me too,probably hunting. onlyflippin Im Pm'ing you
 

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Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
 
My backyard ended with a big empty field on one side and deep woods on the other side. My sister and I practically lived outside during the summer. I remember lots of tick bites but never got sick or had any rashes from them. Chiggers and mosquitoes were more of a concern when I was a kid.

I developed the bulls-eye rash after a hiking in a state park with my college friends. I never thought to check for ticks. Got sick and now I know.

I worry for my family and friends because they still think that Lyme is rare. They haven't changed their habits.

Just the other day my dad told me he wanted to make himself a new lawn chair. His idea was to dig and shape the ground so that literally the lawn could be his chair. Then he could comfortably sit in the grass. OMG!
 

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Posted by pj1954 (Member # 11722) on :
 
Dont forget golf courses in this poll too, many are tree lined or even forest preserve golf courses and ticks know no boundrys either do migratory waterfowl !

in my opinion thats one of the major tick spreaders in the lower 48 states the ticks hitch a ride on them and get dropped every where, so dont let any doctor tell you there is no lyme in any state if a goose or a duck can fly through it you can have infected ticks !
 

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Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
 
Got Lyme on a farm doing lots of outdoor activities, riding horses and picking ticks off of the dogs.
 

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Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
 
Got it in New Hyde Park, Long Island, NY.
Most likely in my front or back yard a second time, based upon the number of other people that got bit around here.
 

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Posted by surprise (Member # 34987) on :
 
I have no memory of ever seeing a tick, so certainly no memory of pulling one off, or a rash.
Don't 'see' them in my area.

15 years ago, lived in town with a large feral cat population- saw mother cat with tiny kittens, decided to feed them outside my door-

thought they were cute, they were wild, picked up kittens, bit and scratched.

That's the only thing I can think of- can see Bartonella symptoms from back then-

We own no pets, and I'll never get one- no hiking- ,no desire what so ever. Don't garden, never have. Never hunted.
 

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Posted by WendyK (Member # 18918) on :
 
I suspect in the backyard, working in my garden, but I also camp, hike, etc. a lot too - can't keep me inside! (even with ticks out there!)
 

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Posted by Love my kids (Member # 32876) on :
 
Grew up in MA. Definitely remember being bit on the head on Cape Cod. But, I was always in the woods, in the grass, etc. so it could be any number of times. Don't remember another bite, but horrific mosquitoes. Have had symptoms as far back as I can remember. They always flared up around stressful times or when I was exhausted (like exam time in college). I would get a super sore throat and feel feverish, but never actually get sick. Injury, severe emotional trauma and pregnancies are what successively sent me over the edge into full blown symptoms. Used to have dogs but afraid to get another one. Used to have cats, same thing, afraid to get another one. (was bit and developed cat scratch). My immune system was just overwhelmed.
 

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Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
 
In May 2011 at Lyme Rally in Washington, DC the ticks were literally falling out of the trees onto people.

I had neighbor who was babysitting for a family with several children and she said the same thing was happening in their yard. Luckily the kids were well-trained in what to do. They stripped and went in and showered.

Pretty scary stuff!
 

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Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
 
onlyflippin - I think it's everyone of the ways you mentioned, and more -

me - barefoot in a wilder part of the state - Big Sur.

And here in San Francisco, parks, backyards, a dog bringing a tick inside the home -

Any of these ways can bring ticks in contact with us, unfortunately. Best to have tick repellent on us and pets, and consider ways to treat the yard.
 

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Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
 
I have spent so much time outdoors, it's hard to say - camping, hikining, horses, barns, work, gardening.

For me it was from all of the above.

I'm a concrete gal now, but really miss all the outdoor activities we used to do...just too paranoid to enjoy it.

My husband got RMSF from a bite he got working in the yard.
 

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Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
 
I have spent so much time outdoors, it's hard to say - camping, hikining, horses, barns, work, gardening.

For me it was from all of the above.

I'm a concrete gal now, but really miss all the outdoor activities we used to do...just too paranoid to enjoy it.

My husband got RMSF from a bite he got while working in the yard.

[ 07-06-2012, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: linky123 ]
 

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