Lyme Disease
I have Lyme disease. Thankfully most people have now heard of Lyme disease, but for those who have not, Lyme borreliosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the Borrelia type and transmitted to humans (or pets!) by a black-legged/deer tick bite and subsequent feeding by the parasite. It typically takes 24 or maybe 36-48 hours of feeding for the disease to be transmitted if the tick is a carrier, though this is not a guarantee either direction. Lyme disease can cause flu-like symptoms nearly immediately, and if untreated they can be followed by severe headaches, joint and muscle...
Read MoreMoisture Levels
Mosquitoes bothering you lately? Or have they been fewer in number than normal? Depending on your location in the Northeast you likely have differing answers. This map shows the precipitation minus the precipitation evapotranspiration, the total of evaporation and plant transpiration of water from the Earth’s surface. Preliminary research by the Northeast Regional Climate Center and Cornell Entomology “indicates that adult mosquitos (Culex) populations are typically high during periods of time when precipitation exceeds evaporation”, which are the positive values shown. The...
Read MoreAmphibian Crossing
This Wednesday or Thursday, depending on your location in the Northeast, should bring temperatures well past 40 or even 50 with rainy conditions. Since it is late March it may be the first night of amphibian migration as these are ideal conditions for frogs, toads and salamanders to emerge from hibernation and start migrating to a nearby wetland at night! Please slow down for salamanders and frogs when you’re driving back roads near wetlands – even when they don’t get crushed by your tires, the slipstream generated underneath a vehicle when you’re moving more than 20-25 MPH will pick these...
Read MoreLyme 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...
Read More“Fight a Bite!”
Below is the Chautauqua County “Fight A Bite!” brochure created by the Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services Environmental Health Division to educate the local public about reducing our risks of mosquito or tick bites that can lead to serious illness. You can also open the full-size PDF version by clicking here and save it if you like. The brochure provides information on ticks and mosquitoes, repellents and how to use them, tick removal techniques and general safety information. I recommend reading over it if you live anywhere in the Northeast as it...
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