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just make sure you only use lemons and don't smurf with the deer.

Pacifica is an awesome place.

You've probably still got both Rana draytonii (the frog in my last post) - and quite likely the San Francisco Garter Snake.

Back on the topic of ticks - today I went to get algae covered rocks and water plants, and again, had ticks all over my socks.
I found something fun to do with them though - throw them into the creek and watch the salmon/steelhead fingerlings snap them up.

So when you hear about people getting lyme disease from eating ocean caught salmon 6 years from now, you now know who to target the vigilante mob at

Chickenhawk wrote:

..but Lyme disease is easily treated if caught early, and its easy to catch early, because it leaves a gigantic bullseye on the site of the bite.

Not always.

Do you always know if you were bitten by a tick?

Many people do not recall being bitten by a tick. The tick can transmit the disease in the nymph and adult stages of its life cycle. The nymph poses the greatest risk to humans, because it is only the size of a freckle and is not apt to call itself to your attention. Furthermore, its barbed mouth parts are so small that the bite is not usually painful and can go unnoticed.

..

Can these later complications occur as the first manifestation?

Yes, sometimes the tick bite goes unnoticed and the person may not become ill with the rash or flu-like symptoms. They may develop arthritic, neurologic, or cardiac symptoms as the first symptoms.

==

Bren wrote:

It's very common to see several of them in my back yard on any given day, and one morning I counted six or seven of them across the street, snacking on my neighbor's front lawn.

My question is, should I be worried much about deer ticks and Lyme disease? I recently spoke to somebody who'd given me the impression that Lyme disease was a regional thing, and that we might not have to be so concerned about it in California. Any thoughts?

Besides 'Let's.. be careful out there'?

Where are ticks (I. pacificus, I. scapularis, I. ricinus) found?

Worldwide: Throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

In the United States: After initially being identified in Connecticut, Lyme disease soon began to be recognized throughout the Northeast. According to the Center for Disease Control, the disease has been reported in about 46 states. However, the majority of cases have been reported in the following states: Northeast Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Midwest Minnesota, Wisconsin.    [Neffy, dv- you're doomed.]

In New York State: Suffolk and Westchester counties are areas in New York State where the highest number of cases have been reported.

What types of areas would be considered tick-infested?

Ticks live in both suburban and rural regions seem to be risk areas. Places in or near woods and surrounding areas that provide a habitat for the white-footed mouse or other potential tick carriers can be infested. Tall grassy places, such as along the side of roads or surrounding some beaches also may be tick-infested. In endemic areas, people may encounter ticks in their own backyards. The nymphs and adult ticks wait on low vegetation in wooded areas or grasslands and can attach themselves to anything that brushes by them. They do not fly or jump.

The beach seems to relatively safe. And Google can be your friend.

http://www.stonybrookhospital.com/index.cfm?id=1317

Hmm... Air Raptor.

Our Recommended Age: 8 - 10 years
Manufacturer's Age: 8 years and up

Sounds perfect! Made by 8yos, for 8yos.

Last edited by Bat (2009-06-16 1:54 am)

Not to mention a body of water.

That's horrifying!

Haven't read the article yet, but since that's a San Francisco paper, I guess that means Lyme is in Northern California.

OK, I've read the article. That study was being written about in 1998, and we still have no definitive treatment or cure for (or even official recognition of) chronic Lyme disease. That sucks.

Other thoughts:

* That fence lizard's hind-legs look like they might be good for jumping, and its feet sure do remind me of an iguana's.

* Reading about ticks has a way of ruining whatever sexy connotation the word "nymph" may have once had.

So what we need to do is help Connecticut out by going over there and releasing hundreds of thousands of fence lizards into the wild.

Just kidding.

You would be surprised Bren.

Time for your glass of warm milk Bren.

:double facepalm:

A little of topic but what friggin avatar do you see in my description. The white pagani or the light blue insecta. How do you change a friggin avatar around here.