Just an FYI for the few people who may be considering this SP for their summer vacation spot.
I just confirmed that the FLA SP Website does not mention the tick infestation at the Park. The only official notice you may get is if you stop by the usually-unoccupied Ranger station at the campground. They have one little flyer titled "Tick Alert" on the shelf. A more accurate description would be "Horrendous Tick Infestation" as the little boogers (they ranged from itsy-bitsy seed ticks to the common larger ring neck type) were literally on the road, in the dirt and on virtually every blade, twig and leaf.
It was an hourly process of pulling them off and disposing of them. We brought to life the Brad Paisley song "I'd like to check you for ticks" but it isn't very sensual pulling a well-fastened tick off a butt-cheek, I can assure you.
I could also mention that we encountered some of the biggest spiders we have ever seen while hiking the 2.6 mile trail. These jokers liked to spin their web at the 5.5' or higher mark off the ground. Pretty soon we were trying to be aware of where we stepped without looking down as we were totally freaked by the size of these things.
I can say with absolute certainty that we won't be coming back to ol' Faver-Dykes.
* This post was
edited 06/19/12 01:31pm by bodyshop bob *
Bob & Carla
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Good information
I recently received an email about tick removal. A nurse discovered that by soaking the tick in liquid soap, swabbing it for 15 to 20 seconds and then touching it with a cotton ball, it will lift off easily and there is no chance of leaving the "stinger" in you. This sounds very easy - so far, I have not had to try it and hope to keep it that way.
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Don't believe the emails with home remedies and old wives' (or nurses' tales). Check actual medical websites or government health sites (CDC in the USA, not sure what agency in Canada) for best methods of tick removal. Such sites seem to hold a consensus that placing soap, alcohol, or anything else on the tick will more often than not prompt it to regurgitate into the wound.
I also heard about the liquid soap removal method. The big spider is probley a Banana Spider. We had many of them Anastasia ST PK when we volunteered there.
Super Wife Linda, me Bob &
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Yep! Ticks live in the woods and the expecially mild winter is going to result in a bumper crop of all kinds of parasites this year. Wear socks, long sleeves, and long pants. Dusting your socks with sulpher powder helps but so does staying inside in the a/c. The spiders are probably Golden Orbs. If you can get them to spin their webs around your campsite it will cut down on mosquitos. Try to catch the sunlight coming through the web in the morning...just beautiful. By the way, the sand is full of fleas and the red bugs (chiggers) are terrible this year. Can't wait to go camping! lizzie
When we were at Gettysberg a few weeks ago there was a news story on a tv station that this year the ticks will be bad everywhere due to the warm winter.
Don
I grew up in the area and went to high school in St. Augustine, ticks are common anytime it's warm, the spiders are called Garden Spiders and they rule the woods. Their web can span the width of a two lane road. We even have them in NC all over back side of our lot. They help in bug management!
We very seldom heard or tick diseases. Found out yesterday a Neighbor just spent several weeks in hospital.High fever and some other nasty things. They finally diagnosed it as Tick Fever. The dog and cat picked up a bunch, of tick, early but the flock, of little birds, has apparently gotten most of them.
I remember someone, at Dentist Office a few years back lost a child to one of the diseases carried by ticks. Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever, I think.
We don't live on that side of the Mississippi though. Lots of reports of Lyme disease and arthritis etc later on from it.
Can't take tick bites too lightly.
rexlion wrote: Don't believe the emails with home remedies and old wives' (or nurses' tales). Check actual medical websites or government health sites (CDC in the USA, not sure what agency in Canada) for best methods of tick removal. Such sites seem to hold a consensus that placing soap, alcohol, or anything else on the tick will more often than not prompt it to regurgitate into the wound.
Health Canada has an informative webpage HERE. Preventing ticks in the first place and removing them after the fact is very important in the prevention of Lyme Disease. Long Point Provincial Park in Ontario has a large sign that warns campers about "deer ticks", and it's my understanding that the deer tick is often a carrier of Lyme Disease.
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rexlion wrote: Don't believe the emails with home remedies and old wives' (or nurses' tales). Check actual medical websites or government health sites (CDC in the USA, not sure what agency in Canada) for best methods of tick removal. Such sites seem to hold a consensus that placing soap, alcohol, or anything else on the tick will more often than not prompt it to regurgitate into the wound.
Health Canada has an informative webpage HERE. Preventing ticks in the first place and removing them after the fact is very important in the prevention of Lyme Disease. Long Point Provincial Park in Ontario has a large sign that warns campers about "deer ticks", and it's my understanding that the deer tick is often a carrier of Lyme Disease.
Yes I think you are right about deer ticks and Long Point P.P. has long been known as a hot spot for them.
We had a shot several years back for Lyme Disease prevention but I think since then its effectiveness has been questioned. Best to try and stay away from them.
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