Tick prevalence in the UK

[PeteHall]

Interestingly, no… been on plenty of walks in the lakes/south Cumbria and camping in the Scottish Borders

I've not even been as far north as Gloucester this summer, so that probably explains our differing experiences!

 

[bagpuss]

Resurrecting an old thread.

Has anyone else noticed a lot more ticks this year? I seem to be getting one or two a week at the minute, which seems more than usual...

Yes, nearly every walk on Mendip I've picked them up & and going for a wee pre caving is a risky business! I'm assuming it's due to milder winters..

 

[wellyjen]

Resurrecting an old thread.

Has anyone else noticed a lot more ticks this year? I seem to be getting one or two a week at the minute, which seems more than usual...

An uptick.
Sorry.

 

[hannahb]

I didn't get any in Cumbria this weekend, and I fully expected to in the long vegetation

 

[hannahb]

Hahahahaha I've just checked again and found one (face palm)

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Not sure if its been mentioned already, but the UK government runs a tick surveiilance scheme. If you've removed a tick, fill out the form and send it off to them, see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tick-surveillance-scheme

Just removed a couple after a weekend on Mendip......................

 

[AlanClark]

Caught a couple before they got chance to dig in while working in the Scottish borders a couple of weeks ago, and that was from walking through a field next to the Tweed. They got unceremoniously crushed between my thumbnails. Not picked any up yet on the higher ground areas I frequent.

 

[Bob Mehew]

My wife and I picked up ticks on Mull and in Assynt, Scotland in the past couple of weeks. Repeated body scans seems to be the only solution. I wrote the attached for BCA some while ago but it got lost off the BCA web site.

 

[mikem]

Insects are also thriving after the mild winter and warm spring, but voles are apparently down (none found on me)

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Interesting piece in the latest New Scientist about ticks. Plans are afoot to develop multivalent vaccines for tick borne diseases or even believe it or not an anti tick vaccine. That'll tick the anti vaxxers off!

Oh no... we'll have to endure more nonsense about experimental vaccines and no longer being a "pure blood" if you accept it. If those ticks drink blood from a vaxxer won't it affect them too? What about the rights of the ticks, has nobody considered them??

 

[ChrisB]

UK government runs a tick surveiilance scheme. If you've removed a tick, fill out the form and send it off to them,

Typical government scheme, all they're interested in is getting a tick in the box.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Whilst I hate ticks I admire their technique for getting from the vegetation to their next host, apparantly they can give themselves a static charge and they use this to 'jump' onto their host (their legs are too small for them to jump properly).

 

[pwhole]

I've never even seen a tick in my life, never mind been bitten by one - unless I taste or smell funny, but nobody's ever mentioned that before.

 

[mrodoc]

Oh no... we'll have to endure more nonsense about experimental vaccines and no longer being a "pure blood" if you accept it. If those ticks drink blood from a vaxxer won't it affect them too? What about the rights of the ticks, has nobody considered them??

Yes we will all be muggles then!

 

[bagpuss]

Insects are also thriving after the mild winter and warm spring, but voles are apparently down (none found on me)

Indeed they are, we've had a massive ant infestation, book lice and silver fish. Can handle creatures that don't damage stuff but losing my patience with some of these critters!

 

[bagpuss]

One tried to hitch a lift on my tackle sack into Goatchurch last night, it got unceremoniously flicked into the undergrowth!

 

[Stuart France]

Always wear long trousers tucked into your socks in tick risk areas. Sounds like Mendip is best avoided.

Given the mainly dry and cool spring and summer here in South Wales, the local insects are struggling. Few to be seen and wasps a rarity.

 

[Lankyman]

One tried to hitch a lift on my tackle sack

Ooer, missus!

 

[amw]

You just need Advantix.

Well, it works for the dogs even helps against sandflies.

Note this is meant humorously.

 

[mikem]

Bad news for water life to let dogs swim in fresh water after treatment