It's tick season! We never saw any ticks for 20 some years,

[hedgehog]

but we took 2 off Guinness late last season and already took one off Pooka this season. Here's what really works well for us:


http://www.ticktwister.com/

We're still working on tick disposal. Last night I grabbed a was of tissue paper and wrapped the tick in that. I couldn't squish the tick and wasn't about to unwrap it to do so. We ended up burning the paper with tick in a frying pan on the stove.

[Bertha Venation]

1. Tick disposal

If you put it in a tissue, twist the ends around it (like a Tootsie Roll), then twist the whole thing up into a knot-like structure, and put it in the trash. No way the tick can get out of that.

Or just flush 'em.

Good luck.

[hedgehog]

4. But the tick would hold its breath. wait for the tissue to dissolve, then crawl out of our septic

system and return to bite again. Ticks are the zombies of the insect world! They make the normal vampires like horse flies and mosquitoes look tame!

[Bertha Venation]

9. zombies of the insect world

:rofl:

You are probably right. They'd escape and return with a vengeance.

[Heidi]

2. Why didn't ya just flush it down the toilet?

I would have RACED to the toilet with that thing. I'm not big on killing, but I'm tellin' ya, ticks absolutely skeeve me. Ginger's had one or two of ' em, but tick removal DEFINITELY is CMW's job, not mine. :puke: :scared:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. I just pull them off with tweezers or a tissue and flush them

[Inchworm]

5. I am often picked for removal

Those tools scare me hehe. I do it delicately with my fingers. :)

As for disposal.. someone always has a drink bottle with a lid around.

:hi:

[hedgehog]

6. There's a vid on You Tube I think demonstrating how to

remove ticks by gently twiddling them until they let go. It really works, but it may take a minute or so and can be tough if the dog is antsy.

[Inchworm]

8. Yup, that's what I do

I figure out what way it's pointing and keep steady pressure on it until it backs out. Some dogs need a holder hehe, but usually I can calm them down enough to do myself.

My dogs, nooooo problem. They know it sucks when I say I have to "doctor" them, but they also know I'm helping. It's strays, other peoples, and fostered critters that are more of a challenge.

:D

[NV Whino]

7. I use Biospot on the cats

and have already pulled three off myself. The last one was the size of the head of a pin. Hate the damned things, and you're right, they've gotten worse.

[hedgehog]

10. Here's how to twiddle a tick off:

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-remove-a-tick/

[sammythecat]

11. Thanks for posting that.

Great tip :thumbsup:

[Orsino]

12. If urban sprawl is approaching, or is increasing around you...

...deer may be partly to blame.

[hedgehog]

13. I live on 60 acres that used to be a dairy farm. Back around 1952, the farmer

planted 45 acres of red pine for Christmas trees, but never got around to harvesting them!

We have deer, possums, foxes, raccoons, turkey, grouse, coyotes mink, ermine and the occasional fisher and beaver.

[Orsino]

15. Anything going on in your ZIP Code (or area code, even) may have changed...

...some animal migratory patterns or daily habits, bringing in more ticks. Sounds like you are fairly isolated, though. If you are seeing unusual weather, that may be a contributing factor.

[hedgehog]

16. We are having milder and shorter winters.

[mcctatas]

14. my ex and I had a cabin in NE WI and the ticks would get pretty

bad some years, we used to pull them off and either put them on a log in the fire pit or whack them with a hammer. I am not a blood thirsty chick by any means, but something about smacking the little feckers with a hammer is cathartic :evilgrin:

[backtoblue]

17. smother it with vaseline

It will come off, head and all.

[elocs]

18. The Tick:

Personally I like Batmanuel: