posted
I am aware that ticks can be just about anywhere....I am curious as to what type of outdoor settings would be considered "less" likely to have ticks...if that is even possible.
I just tested positive for Lyme and have a young son and am now paranoid every time we walk out the door.
Are there ticks at the beach? I don't want to cover us in dEET every day!!
Ps--I was born and raised it the city-hence the question!!
Posts: 78 | From Pa | Registered: May 2015
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posted
Nope. Others may be able to tell you more .. there may be some tips to stay safe there.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Being on a boat in the middle of water is pretty safe. You can also swim around the boat.
Boat people spend entire weekends on the water swimming, skiing, eating, tubing, etc.
I don't worry about ticks when I am on a boat in a lake.
Some places will rent pontoon boats for a day or weekend. Call in advance and reserve one.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Remember you know what Lyme is now and know to take precautions, so please do not lock yourselves indoors. That would be so sad. We live in a beautiful world.
Here are some prevention tips that may help ease your mind. There are alternatives to DEET too, and clothing protections, and I'd recommend using them.
posted
Thanks-definitely see some boat rides in the future! I guess I though that the sand/beach would hot and also close to water that ticks generally wouldn't hang out there. I'm not going to lock us indoors, but will probably vote no on camping or hiking!
Posts: 78 | From Pa | Registered: May 2015
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
Insect shield makes blankets that are treated with permethrin. (this chemical, when applied to clothing and our yards) is known to kill ticks.
These might be really good to use on the beach. You can also purchase Insect Shield yourself and apply it to clothing and your kids sneakers, socks and hats,etc.
But it is toxic to cats and should never be applied to your skin. Read the instructions carefully if you use it.
There are also products you can use in your yard. I make tick tubes out of permethrin soaked cotton balls stuffed into old toilet paper rolls. I place them near where mice will find them to use in their nests. These really work!
We used to have a lawn service treat our yard monthly and it really made a difference with the number of ticks we would find (we are now in a condo). I hope this helps!
Posts: 2387 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
Thanks--and also I live in the city, I don't even have grass in my yard. Just a concrete slab!!
Posts: 78 | From Pa | Registered: May 2015
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
Concrete slabs are a good thing when it comes to avoiding ticks!! Hope you can enjoy the beach! Posts: 2387 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
I received a tick attachment when I was in my garage working.
Multiple ticks crawling on my partner and I when we were tearing apart computers to recycle. We spent about three days recycling. We hadn't been out of the house or garage for any of those days.
Either those ticks crawled across the driveway or rolled in on a leaf. I'm guessing they crawled about 20 yards from the grassy area to the garage to get us.
After my tick bite, we actually saw 2 ticks on the bush nearest my driveway/garage. My car parks next to it. I could actually see the things reaching out toward the open window.
I live on a marsh, lots of little critters, birds and dogs play in the marsh and playground across the street.
I see turkeys in the spring, almost daily. Even on my driveway. They're fun to watch, but I cringe thinking of the ticks falling off of them.
The orkin man comes every other month. He can't do the grassy areas,(Condo association owns the property) but he does do the rocks and bushes around my condo.
Haven't seen a tick since.
I feel like I'm in jail in my own condo. The most time I spend outdoors or in my garage is to get to my car and to retrieve something from the garage. Sad.
-Ede
Posts: 138 | From Eden Prairie, MN | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
I have a fear of ticks, but I am not letting it stop me from going outside and mowing or working in the garden.
I do spray my work clothes with permethrin and I won't sit or kneel in the grass.
However, I believe if I let fear win then Lyme has won and I won't allow that to happen.
I went for a walk the other day and a big spider fell on my shoulder. Should I be afraid to take a walk because of spiders? No. So, I won't allow ticks to rule my life, either.
Just my two cents worth.
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 10183 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
The more I read and research, a lot of websites are saying ticks do not sunlight because of drying out....is this true...meaning would you be a little safer in a patch of sunny grass or on the beach far away from the dunes in direct sunlight?
Posts: 78 | From Pa | Registered: May 2015
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Grass is not safe.
If you go to a major Atlantic Ocean beach where you are on concrete until you are in the sand and water, meaning you don't have to go through grass or any plant areas, that should be safer than any grass.
Ticks are found at the tip of grass, waiting to hitch a ride with a warm-blooded body of any kind. They are found in sunny grassy areas.
It takes a lot to dry out a tick. They don't dry out easily. In sunny grass, they can always go back to the ground to get moisture, then return to their perch.
I have gotten ticks on me sitting on my elevated deck. So, they left grass behind and walked a good ways to get to me.
I have also gotten them on me by standing on my paved driveway. So, they will go after certain people. I am one of them.
Some people attract ticks because of the pheromones they make. I attract ticks and mosquitoes. So, I get bitten by mosquitoes when nobody else does.
If you attract them, you really have to alter your life style. My lyme doctor told me what I have to eliminate from my life. He actually advised me to sell my house and move to an area of the country that has less ticks. (We back to a woods.)
So, depending on whether or not you attract ticks, that determines how much you have to change your life.
People in high-rise apartment buildings in New York City get lyme from the ticks that are on the mice in the building. I also knew a couple in Florida and the wife got lyme from the ticks that were on the mice in their rented house. The mice were covered in ticks.
So, you can get lyme this way even if you are an indoors person. You have to know all of the ways that you can come in contact with ticks.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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beaches
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I personally think being at the beach where the little SOBs can be scorched is safer than other areas.
I would just stay away from the dunes and other grassy areas.
I recently found ticks in my house which completely freaked me out. There is no logical reason for them to be in the upstairs bathroom, but that's where I found two of them, imbedded in towels. Yuck, Ew, Gross, I know.
Posts: 1885 | From here | Registered: Jul 2012
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MADDOG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18
posted
I spend the bad tick months on a Kayak.
The suckers wan't me they have to learn to swim.
Then they have to avoid the hungry fish.
They can't do it HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!
MADDOG
Posts: 4083 | From Ohio | Registered: Oct 2000
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
Im a beach person and have found it is one of the safest places for me. You are right they dont do well in dry or heat...they thrive in cool moist places: lush foliage, thick lawn, ground cover,l eaf litter(no more jumping in leaf piles in fall)
They often are on grass in dunes near ocean so you do have to be careful walking thru it to get to beach and dont spread your blanket or let kids play near grass. Many beaches have dunes fenced off and have no trespassing for other reasons than ticks
I used to spend a lot of time in my kayak also and felt very safe. Altho i heard of one situation where ticks "rained down on " ppl on a big boat about ten miles off shore
There has been speculation about wht it was. I do know that birds get infested with ticks and when they are full they let go so...
Also, i think it was mentioned. But deet takes a long time to repel ticks...too long...they have time to attach and infect and drop off before it works
Permethrin makes ticks curl up and die inches before they get to it. There is a report by tom grier about a study comparing deet and permethrin on sneakers. I have posted it on here a few times...i cant go back but maybe you can
You must be very careful with permethrin esp with children.
Read and follow directions. I hope someone comes up with a tick repellent that works and isnt so toxic
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
Oh...i know someone who got 100 tick bites one summer and he said they were crawlin . All over computer and computer desk. I wonder if emfs attract them. He was in kansas or OK when it happened. Or msybe MO. It was a long time ago.
And its true cities and concrete are safer you cant let your guard down. They have been seen crawling on the plants in big pots near entrances to expensive apts in ny and in central park. Theres a huge number of dogs in cities and ticks will be attracted to them
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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