Ticks

[Michael Greer]

With temperatures in the 60s we decided to wrap it up a little early. I don't like the look of the sap when it's 67 degrees and the sugar content down to 1%, there's not much left when the yeasts start doing their thing. Yesterday we dumped sap, gathered in the buckets, and pulled the taps. It was a beautiful day to be in the woods with the leeks popping up, the birds chattering, and that blue, blue sky. We brought home 250 buckets and three ticks, which by bath time, were well attached. Ticks have gotten worse each year, and now they want to spoil the end of sugar season too. I swear, the end-times are here, and it's gonna suck.

[Ghs57]

Ticks here too. Got one with my needle nose pliers before it got me.

[seclark]

I agree. I went to collect buckets last week and didn't see any but the next day I had one dug in on my shoulder. I had a Doctor appointment that morning so I let the Doctor take it out. So now I am staying out of the woods and more than likely will not sugar next year at all, after all I'm 79 and a one man show and it's not fun any more, just work. I was only a hobby guy anyway but it was fun to do and get out in the woods but as they say time has caught up with me and if it were not for the tick problem I might think twice, but I don't think I will.

[maple flats]

We've had ticks here for at least 3 weeks. My brother-in-law had 3 on him, each on a different day, that had not attached yet, then last Thursday he had another, still walking up from his wrist, pliers did that one in too.

[mountainvan]

I’ve had Lyme 3 times, not fun. Now I wear insectshield clothes when out in the woods.

[GeneralStark]

Second on the insect shield clothing though this year I need to get a couple pairs of insect shield socks....

[Mead Maple]

Second on the insect shield clothing though this year I need to get a couple pairs of insect shield socks....

Son ended up with an imbedded tick from yesterday after pulling taps and buckets. Had to pull it out this morning. First one I have ever dealt with personally and unfortunately it freaked him out. We will certainly be more cautious from here on out as well.


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[1arch]

Interesting thread. I have never seen ticks at this time of year and was surprised to be pulling them off the dog already.

[lew]

I've been sugaring for 30 years. Maybe 7 or 8 years ago we would pull the occasional tick off the dog never saw one on me or anyone else. 2 years ago we purchased 80 acres and started setting up the woods in October. One weekend (2 days) I pulled 82 ticks off of myself. Roughly 20 had attached. None for more than an hour or so. I went to the doctors and they gave me a dose of medicine just to be safe. Funny thing is that the guys that were working with me only got 3 or 4 ticks on each of them max. I guess I'm just a tick magnet. Last year in the same woods we worked weekends removing pine, hemlock and firewood and never got anymore than 2 or 3 ticks per day. This year I haven't had any on myself yet but I have pulled a few off of the cats and dogs starting in February.

[bigschuss]

Permethrin is your friend! Spray it well on a pair of your favorite field pants and wear them each time afield.