Well, not coming, they are already here, at least in the Northeast.
They’ve been saying for months that this season was going to be the worst tick season in decades due to the weird winter we had. I honestly didn’t heed the warning much, because it seems like EVERY year in the Northeast it’s “the worse ______ season ever”, insert whatever yuck you fancy.
But guys. Seriously. In the past week we’ve pulled three ticks off my SO. I’ve pulled one off me. I pulled three off a client’s horse this morning (and these aren’t all the fat, hard-bodied suckers, most of them are small and hard to see :no:) , and I’ve been combing my mini donks like a hawk. Luckily their paddock has been reduced to bare dirt for the most part and they get limited grazing in our yard so I can check them when I put them in. But as if ticks weren’t enough, I went to go see said donks a little while ago, was scratching one’s chest and looked down only to see blood. The poor thing is COVERED in dried, bloody welts all over his chest, girth area, belly and inguinal region. I presume this is the work of midges, and he’s probably allergic to the saliva.
After I finished up, I walked up my porch and happened to look down. Three ticks were making their way up my pant leg. :eek: I’m not one to get squirmy about things, but watching those things crawl up my leg was enough to make my hair stand on end.
As much as hate the heavy hitters, I’m considering pulling out the deet this year. I’m not sure all the traditional practices of dealing with flies, ticks, etc is going to be enough this summer. Recommendations on sprays, topicals, etc, for both two and four leggeds? Chemical or otherwise? I’ve heard rumor of peppermint and eucalyptus being used as a tick repellent, but haven’t tested it’s efficacy yet.
