I had up to 9 deer in my yard this evening. They would leave and return. Did this about 4 times before finally leaving. JIM
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I had up to 9 deer in my yard this evening. They would leave and return. Did this about 4 times before finally leaving. JIM
Talking about deer. There are a heck of a lot of them wandering around my property. I'm told that "Lyme" disease is from Deer Ticks. Should I be concerned about that?? I'm looking forward to spending time with my grandson's and sure <font color="red"> </font color> to catch it. [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
I have them roaming my property also. I worrie about lymes also. I do alot of bush hogging right in the spring in my back woods and spring is suppose to be a big time for ticks, but so far ive been lucky
Yes you do have to worry about it. When we first bought the place we are at right now there were ticks everywhere. The pasture was home to countless deer everyday. Now that I have the cattle and horses on it and the deer are gone we had just about zero problems with ticks last year. Before that you couldn't walk through there without a swarm of ticks on you. My poor girls would have seven or eight a day on them if they went through there. The poor animals would have dozens on them. This last year I never found a single one.
Doc, Based on what the result was on your property, if I can reduce the deer population there could be a reduction in ticks. As I understand it ,deer ticks are about the size of a pin head and these are the ones to be concerned about. Normal wood ticks, although quite disgusting do not transmit Lyme.
Does anyone have an idea how to reduce the deer population,especially if they are just passing through?? [img]/forums/images/icons/confused.gif[/img]
Personally, I find they make tasty chops, steaks and burgers. If that is not your fancy, you will have to convince them that it is not good to continue following the path that they have always followed, and to begin walking across your neighbor's property.
Steve
The deer ticks are certainly bigger than a pinhead around here. You can see them. Yes you are right that the wood ticks don't transmit lyme. We would pick both kinds off regularly.
We got every deer tag we could those first few years. A few of my other friends tagged quite a few as well. That along with using the ground led to their decreased population around our area.
Although deer ticks are certainly carried by deer, they are most often carried by mice. Eliminating deer in your area will not neccessarily eliminate deer ticks. Many areas with no deer at all are hot beds for Lymes. The best way to reduce deer ticks is by free ranging chickens or guinea fowl. They consider all ticks quit a delicacy!
Thanks Rich, I never knew that mice carried deer ticks. CBN and TBN never cease to amaze me with all the info one can get.
I believe deer ticks run a life cycle and grow from small to large, which is why everybody knows them as different sizes.
While I am concerned about ticks and Lyme disease, I believe the threat of mosquitos and West Nile is worse.
Steve
Unless you are immune compromised or elderly you don't have much to worry about from west nile. Most people that get it never even know that they have it. The few that do get it usually are no sicker than the average flu. Now if you're older or immune compromised or are a horse then you need to worry.
Well, I don't think I am Immune compromised. And although I am not a horse there are some that think I'm part of a horses anatomy. So that leaves OLDER! Pray tell, how old would that be Doc?? [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
If you're in your 70s and 80s I'd be worried about it. If you're in your 60s I'd be slightly concerned. 40's and 50's I wouldn't give it too much thought unless you're not in good health. If you're in good to excellent health I wouldn't worry at all.
Cowboydoc,
Don't they have a West Nile vaccination for horses though? Or is it kind of like the Lyme vaccination for people? More boosters and trouble than it's worth?
Steve
Horses are still dying from it even though they are vaccinated. I lost two young mares in excellent health to it last year who were vaccinated.
Is the vaccination failing then, or is it more like rabies that needs a booster?
Last year was pretty bad for west nile here, but I haven't heard of a lot of horse cases. I did manage to see a crow acting like it was drunk though. Standing in the middle of the road and walking in circles. I almost ran it down before it wobbled out of the way.
Steve
Yes will need a booster and yes it did fail on alot of horses. The efficacy isn't known yet. Some vets claimed it did more harm than good and others said it saved alot of horses so it's hard to tell.
We may wind up seeing programs to drastically reduce the number of mosquitos. They've done it before with other diseases.
Steve
Thats nothing I had about 20 yesterday night!
I get a bunch, too. There are about 10 or so out there now, making themselves at home. I used to try and chase them off until my wife caught me running towards them yelling at the top of my lungs. She loves to tell that story to anyone that will listen (and I really don't think I looked quite as silly as she makes out [img]/forums/images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ).
I'm trying to find a way to keep them away from a big garden I'm putting in. I don't really have anything against them and don't mind sharing the space but would like to be able to grow some stuff for myself. They like grass, I really am not fond of it [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] ...Chris
I think that if you pull up some Lymes disease sites you might take this seriously. Hard for Doc's to identify and delibilitating.
I went to the Public Health Dept. and took a serious of shots (3) over a one year period. I am supposedly 90% protected, but still look myself over when I remember.