[wildernessed]

I read an interesting article with some good links on Ticks. It has been a good tick year for me with a lot of off trail hiking through forest, brush, and scab land I haven't encountered a single tick this year so far (fingers crossed).

[Naches Hiker]

I've encountered several hundred in the 115 or so days I've been in the woods this year. Permethrin works real well when I remember it.

[HitTheTrail]

There has been somewhat of an issue in central Washington with the doctors around Wenatchee flatly stating that Lyme disease does not exist here so don't worry too much about it. Other people claim they know of cases and that it is being downplayed so as not to scare people (I personally know one guy who claims he has it but some people question his credibility). Anyway...this week my brother ask me to walk the bird preserve area of the waterfront loop and then have lunch with him. At the entrance to bird loop there now is a bold sign saying beware of ticks and watch for Lyme disease. That seems to be a big change in attitude around here.

[Schenk]

Lyme disease does exist in Washington...but I am sure someone could dispute this by citing some foggy acid trip encounter with a couple so-called guru experts, whose names they cannot recall, on some mountain somewhere... Source: http://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/IllnessandDisease/LymeDisease Quote: Each year, 7-23 cases of Lyme disease among Washington residents are reported. Most of these people acquired the disease following tick bites that occurred in the northeast and upper mid-west states, where Lyme disease occurs more commonly. However, there are usually a few cases (0-3) in Washington annually that result from tick bites in our state. More: https://depts.washington.edu/ceeh/downloads/FF_Lyme_Disease.pdf

[wildernessed]

CDC : Lyme Disease Data and Statistics

[bobbi]

after 40 years+ hiking, I finally got my first tick! it may have hitched a ride when I was hiking the Elwha! yuk I knew I would be okay, but hubby insisted I go to the doctor. he didn't even look at where the dang tick latched onto me. doc said, no worries. no Lyme disease or cases of Lyme around here, Olympic Peninsula.

[mike]

The Pup picked up at least a couple dozen up Catherine Ck. We were picking for an hour.

[ranger rock]

[Roly Poly]

It's an issue for dogs. Mine almost died (due to tick disease causing very low platelets). Caught it by chance on a random blood test. Also explained joint licking where no arthritis exists. Ticks are serious news for dogs.

[Sallie4jo]

The only place I have picked up the buggers were in the Tenaway. Last year was a wake up having found a tic on me two times within a week or two. Both picked up in the eastern part of the Tenaway. I had not picked one up for over20 years till last year. One I think actually hung out in my car for I found it in my hair driving home from work a day or so after the hike. It had not latched on. It's important to keep the tic just in case u do get the telltale symptoms. A lab can check it for Lyme disease and early detection means treatment will most likely b effective. Important information..thanks for the conversation.

[MtnGoat]

[canadug]

Doctors up here in BC denied Lyme Disease existed until quite recently. Many still have their heads in the sand when it comes to tick borne diseases. There were 8 cases of people contracting Lyme disease in Vancouver last year and the same number the year before. I have been hiking up at the Stein Valley (near Lytton, BC) the past two weekends and there are ticks everywhere up there. Be vigilant with the ticks checks.....multiple times per day...

[wildernessed]

I heard they are common around the recent snow line. The most I have encountered is in an old burn that filled with brush and three of us were just turning circles and knocking them off each other why we kept moving. That happened only once to me but we each had over half a dozen on us.

[wildernessed]

CDC Tick Information

[Token Civilian]

Permethrin people....use it. Extremely effective.