TheThoughtIThoughtWasntTheThoughtIThoughtIThought
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I have feared these little shit pissers for years. Everyone would call me crazy when I told them to do spot checks after each outing in the woods. I can't blame them, years ago it was majorly rare to pick up one of these hitchhikers and even more rare to contract Lyme Disease.
Now, these same people that called me crazy are beginning to understand my concerns. More and more reports are coming in every day. At first I thought it was the new media hype, until I found out a sweet lady I work with pulled a "beetle-like" bug out of her arm while showering. Sure enough, it was one of these shit pissers.
A chipmunk apparently got into her home (her doctor believes the tick was piggybacking). It then apparently "sensed" her body heat and the co2 she was exhaling while sleeping. It latched onto her while she slept... IN HER OWN BED. This was several weeks ago and she has begun to show the bad signs. People of Imgur, be safe out there. There's worse things than Lyme, but it's still a horrible thing to need to deal with. Love you ❤️
Brulej
Researchers have recently found more tick born diseases that scare me more than Lyme's.
notmyfirstrodeo
Nothing irrational about that fear. Zombie apocalypse & alien invasions are better irrational fears.
isaidworstcase
Lymes disease has destroyed the life of a young mother I know, and almost killed another friends daughter. Be safe!
PedanticAsshat
This is why I love possums. They're basically walking tick vacuums
ElmurFud
I once taped a tick down to my bicep that had bit me so he couldn't retract. Then I kept flexing til he popped. ... I was twisted child.
nightwater
My family don't understand why I am absolutely terrified of these things...but I am. Yay for irrational fears...
smackedup
Always check for ticks! Between our family of 5 and the dog, we had 14 ticks last weekend after camping. I still check the dog daily.
Blamblam101
Ticks are perverts. They always go right for the testes!
ChuckKarma
Because global warming is nothing to worry about and isn't already costing us many times more than the most draconian energy transition.
cattywumpus
Opossums eat ticks too. Embrace the marsupial demon.
snykat
I feel itchy now...
davebeastly
Me trying to sleep after reading this thread.
DarkMutton
I almost died from Lyme disease when I was 6 years old. I couldn't eat food, and I couldn't walk because my joints hurt so bad. It's serious
Chouilste
Got any enduring problems since ??
lofaith13
I get random autoimmune flare ups. It's called recurring Lyme syndrome. I had Lyme for more than a year before they figured what it was
tapemeasurepencilpenmouse
I've had a fear of these fuckers since I was about 12 when I apparently walked through a nest and my shoes were covered in them.
AlexDustin
ewwwwwwww :/
LiteralZachary
Ticks are awful. My friends mom died from encephalitis in NJ. 1 of 2 cases ever in NJ. I was on the hike with her when she got the tick
stimpsonjcatt
I'm so sorry. That's terrible. My mil got Lyme disease from one. Almost killed her. It's been yes and she's slowly getting back to normal.
momomaruhana
I know someone that got Lyme disease from a tick back in the 90s. Doc refused to believe that's what he had. Now he's all sorts of messed up
TheOfficeAssistant
I'm bit every year. My father even had (and recovered from) Lyme Disease a few years back. I have this fear of them as well.
DeadpoolFangirl
I work at the vet and could do a post about the different kinds of ticks and what kind of diseases they can transmit, shall I?
Hitachi3
yes
GuitarMuscles
Please do!
Chouilste
Yes!!!
DeadpoolFangirl
Will do tomorrow. Gotta take a good nights rest first after that busy stand-by duty
snowtree
Yes.
KiyaSeraphia
And to think we used to have a vaccine for this crap, that lawsuits for unproven allegations got pulled from usage.
Blamblam101
They can also infect you so you can't eat beef or pork without an allergic reaction. Very common in my neck of the woods.
crh19425
Yup, that's the Lonestar Tick that carries that curse.
Ihrtbeer
Fuck that
BlackIC
I would use Benadryl as a new form of steak seasoning if that happened to me.
crh19425
My wife makes organic bug spray that works great for keeping these assholes away. Smells great too. www.tiedyedturtle.com
Chouilste
Does it work well? You gotta spray it around the garden?
crh19425
It's to keep ticks off of you and your pets, not really for large scale application in the yard.
MeisterKleister
Due to milder winters, these things have become much more of a plague in many parts of the country I live in.
nowitsshowtime
These things suck.We have them in my hometown now where they never used to be before. Also learn how to remove them correctly, it's not easy
screamo
You seem upset. Have a Red Tick Beer http://imgur.com/wUjEjiX
jesusisherelookbusy
Needs more dog.
christiangoth
Lone star ticks' injected anticoagulant contains a hydrocarbon normally found in non-primate red meat. A single bite can cause your (1/2)
christiangoth
immune system to identify the hydrocarbon as a foreign substance to be attacked, resulting in an enduring red meat allergy. (2/2)
Chouilste
Thats terrible
shiftingbits
I've been bugging my wife (her PhD thesis was on tick-born disease) to do a post on ticks. There really is a lot of misinformation out there
snowtree
I would definitely like to know more.
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snowtree
Thanks!
AlexDustin
Yes, please! She should share her knowledge with the society.
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AlexDustin
Oh, thank you very much. I really appreciate all the efforts that have been made :)
Chouilste
Yes please !!! And post it on this comment after so that we get a notification!
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Chouilste
Nice! upvoted!
hineyruler
Yeah! After having someone with Alpha Gal stay with me last weekend, awareness is important! Also feeding him was a pain in my ass <3
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hineyruler
Oh, thanks!!
LlamaLingo
Huh?
hineyruler
He contracted Alpha Gal from a tick and now he can't eat any food from mammals at all
LogeeLassleyyy
Alpha gal is a carbohydrate allergy that you get from certain ticks in the world. It makes you allergic to red meat. Forever.
ColdAsHell
we are waiting on Lymes test right now for my son. the deer ticks and wood ticks are so bad where we live you don't even want to go outside
TheThoughtIThoughtWasntTheThoughtIThoughtIThought
I hate that! A pleasant hike shouldn't be something to fear (with obvious exceptions). Hope the results come back clean!
ColdAsHell
Me too thanks....he's only 11 but even in the mowed grass at school he picks up ticks...it's just stupid.
stimpsonjcatt
That's crazy. School would be the last place you want to stress over ticks on your kid. Hope he's ok.
ColdAsHell
Just got the results back this afternoon..Nonreactive!! I'm a Happy Dad for the moment now its what caused rash to think Lymes to start with
thelonepig
Gluten?
DoorbyTheHouseShelf
Already started finding them on my dog. Make sure to check pets as well as yourself regularly!
bawtzki
This. April-July is the worst, after that it calms down a bit. We have our little guy on Nexgard and it works great.
NotEvenRemotelySorry
Make sure to remove them with the proper tools (mini pry bar). Otherwise crushing their body might get their disease into your pet/yourself.
OddOod
No, the worry is that if the head is left behind it will cause an infection
TealButterfly
Advantix
snarkybitch
Ive found them on both my dogs already :/
wangtangle
I remember seeing that post on here where the pup ate grass and later they pulled a fukken tick out of the dog's gumline. Fucking monsters.
Thesaya
We got a tick collar for ours each summer, he got maybe one a year (like this; http://www.1800petmeds.com/images/products/420/11305_420.jpg)
OddOod
Also use something like PetGuard chewables
DrawSomethingEveryDay
don't forget to vaccinate for Lyme disease (dogs only), and apply your pet's insecticides on time!
YZFR6Chic
Don't forget to check their gums if your pet likes to chew on the grass. I live in a heavily wooded area and deal with these suckers a lot.
stormegedendarklordofall
I applied anti-tick stuff last night, my dog often goes into tall grass and I have found ticks on him before.
SleepyAllyCat
For the love of pets if you find them on your animals keep the blood suckers in your freezer. If your pet gets sick it will help your vet.
Blamblam101
I found 2 on mine the first week of spring.
HeyLookAGinger
Ewwwwwww they are such gross little tank like bugs.
bakerdays
I check my pup every time I take her out to potty, she knows the word "ticks" and flops on her back.Had an infestation, chickens are helping
illydilly
Que "Check yu for tics" By Brad Paisley
nowitsshowtime
Isn't part of the reason we have them now is bc in the 70's we banned a pesticide that killed all these shitlords, and other bugs?
shiftingbits
US Vector Control does not spray for ticks (it's impractical). Booms in populations can be due to increased rain (humidity) and food (game).
shiftingbits
When it's dry/hot they hunker down so they don't desiccate. Abundance of animals (due to plant growth) can boom a population.
TheThoughtIThoughtWasntTheThoughtIThoughtIThought
I think it's a combo of less pesticides and mild winters. We are allowing them to gain traction
firstnewsentry
Decades of data show that the increased rate of Lyme is linked to a boom-bust cycle in White Oak tree acorn production. 1/?
nowitsshowtime
Agreed with that in regards to the milder winters. I'm putting off camping due to ticks, or I'll head north to camp
firstnewsentry
And more white footed mice => More ticks 3/3
firstnewsentry
More acorns = larger white footed mouse pop.
o0Tektite0o
Fucking Ticks...absolutely useless.
Kage197
Where I have spent about half of my life l, Kentucky and Arkansas they are just the normal. But where I have spent the rest which is Nevada1
Kage197
They are unheard of, it is a very real problem and can turn bad very quickly, always check yourself after a walk. I don't care where you are
cancerriddenlung
JINK26
SPOOON!!
cancerriddenlung
Yes!!!
thelittletrainthatcanteven
It's another one of Nature's natural population controls. Just like everything else shitty that kills us. It's all part of a balance.
allthingsphallic
They're nature's population control
upvotesforass
I hear you
bigVanilla
I was diagnosed with Lyme today. Prob had it for a long time at this point. Just took my first Doxycycline pill. Gonna be a long month
dullguava
Personally I think fucking ticks is sometimes quite relaxing so not entirely useless.
surprisecreampie
Like most people
TeeMee123
yeah but at least they aren't ocean sunfish
nero4ty2
what's wrong with sunfish?
TeeMee123
google "sunfish rant"
FreedomWaffles
we actually had a preventative medicine for lyme disease in the 90's but big pharm said it wouldn't sell. so they scrapped it. super fucked.
investigation27
Actually, the problem was irrational fear of vaccines. Profit concerns followed. http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/thanks-anti-v
investigation27
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/thanks-anti-vaxxers-only-licensed-lyme-disease-vaccine-was-withdrawn/
FreedomWaffles
I believe they actually said profit not sell which makes it fucking worse. big pharm can suck my slightly above average weiner.
GaySocialistLiberalMuslimCommieAtheist
Slightly above average for imgur? So given what I've seen on imgur your is penis 3 micrometer's long?
FreedomWaffles
3.2 its slightly above.
AdorableTinyKitties
Found one on my dog. I put ice on it and burned that son of a bitch
Adarlansassassin
Be careful doing that, ticks can vomit there contents back into the bite and cause all kinds of trouble
AdorableTinyKitties
The tick i mean not the dog. My dog is great. Ticks deserve death
SterlingMalloryArcherAKADuchess
just like mosquitoes
TheElderBowls
they feed the bats :0
NotAPervert
Every niche a mosquitoes fills is co-competing with another species. They could be completely eradicated and the hole would be filled.
VonKripplespac
Yeah and humans sometimes.
naivepuppy
Population control..
StuckInBetweeen
Mosquitos are a vital part of several ecosystems, many organisms eat them. Fucking ticks though...
Happypoopytime
Believe it or not mosquitos are actually very effective pollinators, but yes they are pests for sure
ByzantineMan
Ehh. Some are sure, but the bloodsucking type are not, and are an invasive species. So extermination is actually a good idea
ohfuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck
"the bloodsucking type" So, the females.
LiterallyNothingAvailable
There are many different types of mosquitoes than just male and female.
Lenthas
isn't that the problem with all species....dem females...always the answer..and the problem
ButCanTheyBeatGoku
But how will we create dinosaurs without mosquitoes?
GuitarMuscles
Life, uh, finds a way
SneksOnPlane
IWishIHadASoul
And wasps
filthymansock
Mud daubers control spider population, but definitely fuck yellow jackets
littlmickey
Mud daubers also have a super low "dickhead" drive unlike yellow jackets who will just fuck your shit right up for literally no reason
LiterallyNothingAvailable
Yes. Fuck mosquitos.
TehOuchies
With out Mosquitos we would not have the greatness that is Jurassic Park.
wariosgarlicbreath
Please don't fuck mosquitos
funkmoth
Lots of things eat mosquitoes
sonic745
Bats. But I hate bats as well.
funkmoth
Dragon flies. Which are awesome!
ratfinkfuck
Does anything even eat them?
merdock379
A lot of things. Birds mostly.
o0Tektite0o
The only really good thing about them is that birds feed on them
droFnasb
I have a wild turkey that eats all the nasties living in my yard it's great.
Gun10ck
Wild Turkey always gets the job done.
droFnasb
Nothing like drinking wild turkey and a watching a wild turkey eat ticks.
ApplebottomGene
Possums eat them like crazy.
ByzantineMan
I though possums just killed them by existing, like, their blood is toxic or some shit
Shaftmaster
About 5000 per season. Snoops check approved.
MedicSailor
But nothing needs to eat them exclusively sonit would not cause any major ecological stress if they were wiped out.
raiderdave0109
my free range chickens clean our lawn for us
CaptainGrowler
Also guinea fowl
Epicbearddude
That's why I always say don't kill snakes, they actually help keep the population in check because they eat mice, rats etc that carry them.
merdock379
But mice and rats eat them so...
27yoUGLYvirgin
? Why would anyone kill snakes in the first place? That seems like saying don't kill geese? Like, why? Is that a thing? I'm so confused.
DerFoxeh
DID SOMEBODY SAY KILL GEESE?!
27yoUGLYvirgin
http://www.animalphotos.me/mammal/fox-red2_files/geese5.jpg
DerFoxeh
YEH! YEH! GETTIM! GETTIM!
decorativemooseknuckle
Who the in the balls of steel fuck sees a snake and decides to do battle to the death with it...I scream like a 10 year old and run away...
pelusita35
My sis had little kids and a coral snake showed up at their swingset. So she killed it.
pokebug666
I love snakes for this very reason. Spiders too.
JackMolotov
AFUCKINGWHITEMALE
Heck
derock789
Wht would you want to kill a snake? Do people actually do that?
TimboTimboTimbo
Sometimes dogs don't know when to leave a venomous one alone and you have no choice.
turketron3000
I always tell people that too. I hate when people want to kill snakes just cause they think they're gross.
HeyLookAGinger
Venomous are scary beyond that they are weird little things no arms or legs and see by smelling with their tounge.
NotAnIroningBoard
You're a weird thing smelling with your nose and having all those arms and legs though.
sqlyoda
Lyme is caused by deer ticks tho. What kind of snakes do we need that can eat deer?
DARfuckinROCKS
We need the wolf population back. Deer are like giant rats around here crazy over populated.
MisterWhuffles
Deer ticks actually feed on smaller mammals, like mice, early (as nymphs) in their 2 year life cycle. As adults they can feed on deer.
nasreal
1 Deer ticks, despite the name, latch on to all sorts of hosts and are in no way exclusive to deer. Solution to deer population is hunting..
nasreal
2 and reintroduction of natural predators. Coyote are everywhere, but what we could really use is a healthy wolf population.
DARfuckinROCKS
I watched a show on reintroducing wolves to yellow stone. It was very interesting. Of course you can't do that in urban areas.
Cerinna
Actually all ticks are not picky at all. Most of them will latch onto anything that has a blood flow.
PostMoThoin
There are a lot more tick borne infections than just Lyme disease
turketron3000
RMSF!
Epicbearddude
Hey we could introduce pythons, but seriously nothing is perfect still better to have snakes than ticks.
sqlyoda
Yeah you're not fooling anyone. http://imgur.com/uhu37l9