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Posts Tagged "Deer Tick"

Deer Tick

Posted on Jul 10, 2015

Deer Tick

Whether it is a warm and sunny day or a cool, cloudy one you can now expect to find some ticks outdoors, especially in edge habitats. The photo shows a tick I recently pulled off of my dog on an inch ruler. In western New York this is rarely a problem, and only a handful of sites have any ticks to be found. However, in places like Connecticut the population is robust, booming, and filled with diseases. Any time that you or your dog goes outdoors this spring, and throughout the year really, you should be mindful of ticks. The best way to protect yourself is to stay covered, change your...

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Tick Season

Posted on Apr 22, 2015

Tick Season

Tick season has arrived! Whether it is a warm and sunny day or a cool, cloudy one you can now expect to find some ticks outdoors, especially in edge habitats. In Western New York this is rarely a problem, and only a handful of sites have any ticks to be found. However, in places like Connecticut the population is robust, booming, and filled with diseases. Any time that you or your dog goes outdoors this spring, and throughout the year really, you should be mindful of ticks. The best way to protect yourself is to stay covered, change your clothes, check yourself from head to toe, and shower...

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Tick and disease warning sign

Posted on Aug 9, 2014

Tick and disease warning sign

This was a very informative sign that certainly looks rather new that I saw recently here in Western New York. Please have a wonderful weekend outdoors and enjoy the gorgeous weather but always keep your family’s safety in mind – including those furry children, too. Without proper habitat management practices and the continuation of the degradation of our ecosystems signs like these will need to be all the more common as we create more edges, lose predators and spread invasive plants, permitting or even favoring environmental conditions that harbor ticks and foster their...

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Lyme Disease bullseye rash

Posted on Aug 1, 2014

Lyme Disease bullseye rash

Recognize this? If you ever have a “bug bite” that feels warm to the touch and seems for all the world to be like a mosquito bit you…except that it doesn’t itch or feel painful…you should watch it very carefully and be ready to head to the doctor. This is the beginning of the classic Lyme Disease bullseye rash from the bite of a Deer/Eastern Black-legged Tick. The rash will continue to expand and in my case it ended up spanning my entire thigh. You’re lucky if you have a rash as many people do not get one. Twan and I have both had Lyme Disease when living...

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Tick invasion bringing epidemics

Posted on Oct 29, 2013

Tick invasion bringing epidemics

During my first nearly three months in Chautauqua County, New York and surrounding areas I have met hundreds of naturalists and birders, spoken here at RTPI a few times, and discussed countless topics relating to our local environment. Invariably I end up comparing what I have seen or heard of here to my life in Connecticut. One ideal I try to impart is that we do not want this region to end up like Connecticut has in many respects (sorry, it’s true!) pertaining to the natural world. The most frightening aspect that always receives stunned reactions and fearful glances is when I...

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