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       Blacklegged ticks (Lyme) in BWCA?
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 04:42AM
Blacklegged ticks (Lyme) in BWCA?

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
tumblehome 08/02/2019 09:34AM
Frenchy19: "Treat clothes with permathrin."


And remember, wet permthrin is deadly toxic to cats so use it carefully.
To,
Frenchy19 07/31/2019 10:48AM
Treat clothes with permathrin.
Maureen 07/31/2019 07:52AM
So I called my dr. office and they prescribed a 200mg dose of Doxycycline over the phone as a prophylactic measure. Given that I found the tick and knew approximately when it attached, etc. they felt it made sense to take this precaution. Thanks all for your input!
Pinetree 07/29/2019 01:40PM
LindenTree: "Maureen: "Just got back from a trip and discovered a deer tick (blacklegged tick) embedded on my left upper arm. First time we've ever had an issue with ticks in the BWCA! Hoping we caught it soon enough so it doesn't transmit disease. We traveled from Seagull - Alpine - Jasper - Kingfisher - Ogish - Spice and back out the same way."
I have been bitten by Deer Ticks many times, due to my wildlife career. My signs include a really sore area that itches at the point of attachment. This bite hurts way more than the regular Wood Ticks. I have gotten the circular ring/rash a couple times. I used to go to the Doc every time, finially, he simply give me an (Rx) for 100 tablets of Doxycycline and told me to treat myself when I get bitten."

Wow,lucky to find a doctor who would do that. I have a dentist friend who said if I can't get it right away, she will supply me. So many diseases from deer ticks.

I will say this year around Brainerd deer ticks are the lowest since about 1992. But sometimes with low numbers you get careless and don't check as often.
Porkeater 07/29/2019 12:51PM
I agree with LindenTree that, if you are concerned about it, just explain that to your doctor and get an antibiotic prescription.


My son had the bullseye rash after our trip a couple years ago. Took him to the doctor shortly after we got home, and after a week of treatment, never had any other issues.
Maureen 07/29/2019 11:09AM
Thank you! I wasn't sure it was a deer tick but I saved it after my husband took it out and looked at it under a magnifying glass (couldn't tell colors very well, etc. w/o magnification). My husband had Lyme disease last summer and was treated successfully, but it wasn't from up in the BWCA (camping in Door County or possibly even in our backyard in Wisconsin.) I am watching for any symptoms but so far feel fine and don't have a rash. This just happened a few days ago so I know it might take a week to show symptoms. Or hopefully none! We were at a more secluded campsite the last two nights of our trip with lots of vegetation and signs that it isn't used often, and I'm guessing this is where it came from. The walk to the latrine had plants up to my shoulders crossing the path. I wear insect repellent, long sleeves, pants, etc. but I guess there's no 100% way to prevent this.
LindenTree 07/29/2019 10:52AM
Maureen: "Just got back from a trip and discovered a deer tick (blacklegged tick) embedded on my left upper arm. First time we've ever had an issue with ticks in the BWCA! Hoping we caught it soon enough so it doesn't transmit disease. We traveled from Seagull - Alpine - Jasper - Kingfisher - Ogish - Spice and back out the same way."


I have been bitten by Deer Ticks many times, due to my wildlife career. My signs include a really sore area that itches at the point of attachment. This bite hurts way more than the regular Wood Ticks. I have gotten the circular ring/rash a couple times. I used to go to the Doc every time, finially, he simply give me an (Rx) for 100 tablets of Doxycycline and told me to treat myself when I get bitten.
Pinetree 07/29/2019 09:40AM
4keys: "Black legged tick? I'm guessing that is the same as a deer tick?
"



yes
Pinetree 07/29/2019 09:26AM
Maureen: "Just got back from a trip and discovered a deer tick (blacklegged tick) embedded on my left upper arm. First time we've ever had an issue with ticks in the BWCA! Hoping we caught it soon enough so it doesn't transmit disease. We traveled from Seagull - Alpine - Jasper - Kingfisher - Ogish - Spice and back out the same way."
I have had Lyme disease and most of my friends if not just about all because they work in the outdoors.

If you think you have it and go to the doctor, my opinion get medicine for it even if tests come back negative. Many times they will come back negative in the early stages of the disease. Most of my friends will get medicine automatically if they think they have the disease. I did and it cured up real fast. To delay treatment makes it much harder to nock it out of your system. I have friends whom the doctor told they didn't have it so they did not get medicine and turns out they had it and they had a tough time beating it.

Also you sure it was a black legged tick or deer tick? Not trying to scare anyone just be sure what to do and when to do it. Symptoms etc.

Everyone of my friends are back in the woods and just take precautions like everyone should in tick country.

I am sure you will get lot of advice. You determine if and when if you have to do anything.



Maureen 07/29/2019 08:02AM
Just got back from a trip and discovered a deer tick (blacklegged tick) embedded on my left upper arm. First time we've ever had an issue with ticks in the BWCA! Hoping we caught it soon enough so it doesn't transmit disease. We traveled from Seagull - Alpine - Jasper - Kingfisher - Ogish - Spice and back out the same way.
mjmkjun 05/04/2018 07:50AM
Treat clothes with permethrin. The pants legs and seat especially. Invest in a pair (or two) of lightweight nylon pants for the kids. Cover vulnerable leg skin. No shorts!
Not related to BWCA, in particular, Ohio must fret about the spread of the Lone Star Tick.
"While it is found in Texas as well as other places, the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) gets its name from the small white “star” that is visible on the backs of females. It also has a reputation for being one of the more voracious and aggressive feeders."
One of the side effects of infection from the Lone Star Tick is breaking out in big, ugly hives when meat is consumed. Yikes!
here's an infection rate map of ticks in general:
http://www.dogsandticks.com/diseases_in_your_area.php
tumblehome 05/03/2018 02:21PM
@Jaywalker, not problem. I understand.


This is a good thread for all the readers that are planning on a trip north this summer. The sucky thing (no pun) about the deer tick is that it can be so small, like a fleck of pepper and are easily missed.


I do like that they are calling them the black legged tick now. It has a visual name as opposed to deer tick which doesn't tell the novice much.


Ticks are most active now right after the snow is gone and again in the fall. They are less active in the hot summer months but doesn't mean they are not out. And no, they do not jump on people but love to hang out on tall grass and catch a ride as you walk by. The map in the above post shows the expanse of their range.
Pinetree 05/03/2018 12:47PM
Map


It looks like the BWCA is or is getting close to having major problems?
Pinetree 05/03/2018 12:33PM
I think deer ticks are still very rare in the BWCA but they have been found in recent years,so what does this year mean and the future? I think along the north shore deer ticks are more abundant. I know their range has been moving northward at a rapid range. It sucks.


I know people in Ely and especially Gunflint trail area talk about not seeing even the wood tick species in the late 60's. Now they are very common and even in Quetico.


I think I also had one deer tick by Brule about 7 years ago.


Deer ticks showed up in the Brainerd area in 1992 and now are extremely abundant and Crow Wing county is a National hotbed for Lymne related diseases. You live around here,it is not if but when you get the disease if your outdoors a lot.


I think the moose tick mentioned above is called the winter tick and has been around for a very long time. The warm winters of many years made survival of these ticks very high. I have seen Moose in Quetico 90% devoid of hair caused by moose rubbing trying to get rid of excessive ticks.
Jaywalker 05/03/2018 12:03PM
4keys: "Black legged tick? I'm guessing that is the same as a deer tick?
"



Yes. Sometimes areas have different names for animals.


Black legged tick (official name) is usually called deer tick in Minnesota, and sometimes bear tick.


American dog tick (official name) is commonly called Wood tick in Minnesota.


Moose ticks are an altogether different thing. Thank goodness they don't like humans as they cluster in groups of hundreds or thousands.
Jaywalker 05/03/2018 12:00PM
Tumblehome - I hope no one equates my choice of words "not stressing" with not taking seriously, which I do. Your's and your wife's scary experiences show why we all should. And yes, things are changing and changing fast for the worse regarding ticks range and the diseases they carry.
tumblehome 05/03/2018 08:15AM
Jaywalker:
I don't think deer or wood ticks in the BWCA are worth stressing over, but they are sure worth a few squirts of permitherin on my socks and a quick check every evening. "



I think they are worth stressing over. I live in Duluth and there are a myriad of diseases that ticks carry that the medical community was unaware of just five or ten years ago. Pretty much nothing bothers me in this world, but I do have a great deal of respect for ticks. Why?


I've been bit by ticks a million times in my life. I love the woods. I got Anaplasmosis about 6 years ago and ended up in the ER. Simple anti-biotics cured me.


My wife was bit by a tick and ended up at the doctor and was diagnosed with three tick illnesses. The medical community was so intrigued with her diagnosis that she sold a quart of blood to a research company in CA for $300 so they could study what happened to her.


There is a lot more than just Lyme's disease going on, and the ticks are very common in MN now. That said, I have not seen the small black deer tick (the one that carries all of this) in the BWCA. There are plenty of the common wood ticks up there.


Just know that things are changing with ticks in northern MN.


PS, researches are now questioning many chronic diseases as possible long-term tick borne diseases.
4keys 05/02/2018 07:29PM
Black legged tick? I'm guessing that is the same as a deer tick?
Jaywalker 05/02/2018 02:43PM
rdricker: "Never noticed any ticks on my trip into Q...June 2014 and July 2017...are they more prevalent just south of the border?"


No, of course not, but they are more prevalent now then they were in years past and are spreading. They are clearly in Lake and St. Louis Counties. Are there as many inside the BWCA or not - who knows. I don't recall seeing but one wood tick in the BWCA in my first 15 trips or so, but last May I had about 10 on me and my dog. I also lived in MN for about 50 years, but just saw my first deer tick (black legged tick) about 5 years ago, and have seen several since, including this fully engorged female I pulled from my dog 2 years ago while camping just 30 miles west of the BWCA.


I don't think deer or wood ticks in the BWCA are worth stressing over, but they are sure worth a few squirts of permitherin on my socks and a quick check every evening.
inspector13 05/02/2018 12:42PM

The second time I got a confirmed case of Lyme disease was just after returning home from a week long stay at my cabin 50 south of the BWCAW border. I have seen the black legged tick there. But since my home is in a high risk east metro county, and I went to the doctor here, I don’t know if they would even try to confirm that the tick that infected me came from Lake County.


mapsguy1955 05/02/2018 11:34AM
There are ticks in the Q
rdricker 05/01/2018 09:58PM
Never noticed any ticks on my trip into Q...June 2014 and July 2017...are they more prevalent just south of the border?
Jaywalker 05/01/2018 08:55PM
Much of the BWCA is in the high risk for Lyme zone, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. MInnesota Lyme Risks: So, yes, do take precautions (permitherin) and do check. Keep in mind in spring it will be the nymph black legged ticks which are even smaller and hard to see than the adults. Wood ticks will also be actives. They don't transmit Lymes, but can carry other bad stuff.


IowaGuy 05/01/2018 07:15PM
Have there been confirmed cases of lyme disease from the BWCA? I can't remember seeing any blacklegged ticks in my previous May trips.

Bringing some kids along this year on a late May trip, and wondering how diligent we need to be on our tick checks each day... Thanks!

Lyme disease map