Tick Prevention

[River Dog]

I am planning on thru-hiking the AT in 2010 and was wondering if anyone had any success taking or applying natural remedies in order to repel ticks. I've heard that taking garlic pills and B vitamins along with applying lotion mixed with eucalyptus and/or neem oil can prevent ticks. With cases of lymes in the U.S at record highs in 2008 http://underourskin.com/blog/Lyme_Bar-Chart_2008.pdf, I want to be dilligent and pro-active in preventing ticks altogether. On the trail, I know it's unrealistic to think that I can eliminate ticks completely, but prevention and early detection are key when it comes to avoiding Lymes.

[Wise Old Owl]

There is a lot of information here about ticks but the AT is not bushwacking and is a wide trail in many places. I tried a lot of different things over the years and two things really stand out, clothes treated with Pymerthrin spray for mosquitos and Deep Woods off on the legs (it only requires a little light layer wiped on) you are trying to prevent them from climbing up into the thighs and groin area. When you get to the brushy areas and tall grasses, places with a lot of deer. Thats when you must be on guard. It now comes in a UL pump spray and is not 100 percent deet which I like a lot.

[Mango]

I believe physical precautions are as useful as chemical. Wear long pants in tick country / season. Make sure they're light colored, so you can more easily see a tick that might have just gotten on your clothes. Check yourself frequently, at least nightly.

In '06, I tried to do these things, and put a little Deet around my waist and bottom of my pants. Never had a tick on me, that I know of.

[Blissful]

DEET, long pants (treat pants and socks ahead of time with permethrin - you can get it at campmor) and check yourself regularly.

[Whiskey Ninja]

I am planning on thru-hiking the AT in 2010 and was wondering if anyone had any success taking or applying natural remedies in order to repel ticks. I've heard that taking garlic pills and B vitamins along with applying lotion mixed with eucalyptus and/or neem oil can prevent ticks. With cases of lymes in the U.S at record highs in 2008 http://underourskin.com/blog/Lyme_Bar-Chart_2008.pdf, I want to be dilligent and pro-active in preventing ticks altogether. On the trail, I know it's unrealistic to think that I can eliminate ticks completely, but prevention and early detection are key when it comes to avoiding Lymes.



Garlic works great for mosquitoes, I've been eaten alive in Alaska and ate a ridiculous amount. You stink horribly but it was worth it for me then. I actually exposed an arm in a cloud of mosquitoes and they landed on me but didn't bite. It might work for ticks also but never tried. I hate Deet, it tears up your clothes, and I always find a way to get it in my eyes. As far as other natural remedies, I tried a lot of the store bought ones and none of them worked at all for ticks. I probably removed 20 or so ticks this summer, majority were wood ticks, I didn't see any deer ticks until VA. I was only bit 5-6 times.

Don't sweat it, there are a million other things that can get you besides ticks. If you want something to worry about, try bears, coyotes, pigs, giardia (that was fun), cryptosporidium, ground dwelling bees (stung about 30 times this summer), venomous snakes, homeless people camping in shelters, murders in VA, tripping and falling off a ledge, lightning (being on a ridge is awesome in a big lighting storm, it happens), lack of water, freezing cold, and freak storms.

Try not to over think it, your surrounded by things that can kill you everyday. I couldn't count all the ticks I removed when I was little. While being vigilant, be sure to check the taint, that's where they always seem to get me. Let me know if you want another list?

[Hooch]

Jsut link a few tick collars together and wear them around your neck. This is what happens when function and fashion collide. :rolleyes::D:eek:

[Spokes]

Just link a few tick collars together and wear them around your neck. This is what happens when function and fashion collide. :rolleyes::D:eek:


Too funny! I remember Rambunny telling me to get two cat flea collars from the Dollar Store and wear them on each ankle while hiking through New England. Yikes!!!!!!!!!

[Spokes]

Family members sending flea collars to soldiers in Iraq to "prevent" sand flea bites prompted this Army memo.

http://deploymenthealthlibrary.fhp.osd.mil/products/Animal%20Flea%20and%20Tick%20Collars%20are%20NOT%2 0for%20Human%20Use%20(152).pdf

[garlic08]

I've been DEET-free for several years. The cost of that is wearing lightweight long trousers and long sleeves in summer and carrying a headnet, but for me it's worth it. Not one tick on my AT thru last summer. I did treat my trousers and socks with Permethrin once.

As for garlic, I like it, but have never noted its repellent properties :rolleyes:.