[AlpineZone]

Originally Posted by LaRemnant

Interesting! Tell me, how do you know the ecosystem is not good if there isn't a tick infestation? What does that mean?

ThanX!

Because ecologist have determined the health of the food chain in areas around the world based on the amount of smaller parasite/organisms such as ticks, mosquitoes, because they pass on nourishment to other smaller organisms on the food chain. They need host animals for nourishments such as deer, moose, wolves, etc.

So without a healthy population of these organism's they can determine the food chain is not so good because of a lesser amount of larger hosts.
Spiders, wasps etc also feed on these organsisms.

Infestation is to strong a word should use a healthy amount of ticks,mosquitoes and other small organisms.

[George]

It almost sounds that tick could be removed with the aid of some gadget creating vacuum, that will not allow tick to regurgitate anything back into body as it's guts and all would be sucked out.

Vacuum cleaner comes to mind, maybe with modified nozzle.

[stairman]

For some reason ticks dont like me. I have hunted with others etc. and they get them but I rarely do. I do find that sulpher dusted around the top of my boots and around my belt zone helps tremendously in keeping of ticks and chiggers. I have removed them in all the wrong ways in the past and never had a problem with infection. Nightly bathing goes a long way to help with such skin conditions that our forefathers didnt understand and thus had more problems with surface infections. Sweat is sterile and odorless. Its the bacteria on the surface of the skin that you smell worst when sweat is present and that sweat then runs into bites, wounds etc possibly causing more problems.

[Stumpknocker]

Unfortunately, I contracted Lyme on a hike in 2002. Since then, I have found the best way for me to remove a tick that has attached itself to me.

I carry a few Q-tips in my backpack and a very little bit of soap. When I find a tick on me (I check every night when I'm backpacking), I swirl a wet Q-tip in the soap, then swirl the soapy Q-tip in a circle around the tick. It takes a minute or so, but the tick lets go of it's grip on me and backs out.

It always works for me.

[crazydave]

interesting as thats similar one to the alcohol swab or the older cover with vasolene or antiseptic till they decided that the tick might regurgitate as reflex action for closing off its breathing hole

[LaRemnant]

That soap suggestion sounds interesting, but yeah, what if they're DEEP in your skin? you will have to probably cut yourself digging them out, huh? I mean, if you have to get as close to their head as possible.

YUCK. Just thinking about regurgitated blood being spat/squished back into your body is DISGUSTING.

[rogerstevens]

Bear grylls gave a good tip, squirt lime juice on it and it will let go. But who carries a lime around.. not likin bear grylls´advice so much..