Yesterday, I was out in the boondocks looking over my intended bug out site. I decided to take a look at the natural water spring from which I intend to get the water I will need to stay alive if TSHF. My wife’s family came to this area in1927. This spring has always had water. And, water is a necessity for life, and, it is too heavy to carry much of it at a time. So, I figure that I will have to hunker down somewhere close to water. Anyhow, I checked it out; everything was OK; and I returned to where my wife was waiting. And, we enjoyed the rest of the day just being out in the mountains.
When I got home, I removed my dirty clothing and tossed them in the wash. I felt a slight itch on my side toward the front I looked down and-YUK-a tick! It was boring away on me! I carefully removed it by turning it (they kinda screw their way in and out) and dropped it into the sink, turned on the water and flushed it away.
Today the spot is a little sore, but it seems to be healing up. This isn’t the first time that a tick has latched onto me so, I think I will be OK. I did disinfect it and put a cover over it after removing the varmint.
But, it did remind me that, if we head out to the boondocks to live, we will have to be on constant alert against this problem. Some ticks are carrying dangerous diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. In a TEOTWAWKI situation, that could ruin your whole day! So, we will have to be diligent in checking for ticks on each other.
I got to wondering if there is anything that can be done to prevent and/or control ticks There are some products that you can apply to your body that are supposed to repel ticks. But, how long would they last in a time of Armageddon? So, I googled “Ticks” and found some information.
“Apply insect repellant and use the brands designed to repel ticks. Follow label instructions. Avoid use of DEET-containing repellents on children. Carefully follow instructions and apply some repellents directly to skin and others to clothing. DEET-containing repellents with concentrations of 15% or less may be suitable for children. These should be carefully applied strictly following label directions. Repellents containing permethrins may be applied to clothing but not to skin. In areas that have a high tick population, DEET-containing repellents may need to be reapplied more frequently than for repelling mosquitoes. Follow the package label instructions carefully.”
One natural form of control that is recommended for ticks is the guineafowl, a bird species that consumes mass quantities of ticks. Just two birds can clear 2 acres (8,100 m2) in a single year! Guineas are also good “watchdogs!” Let a stranger come around and they will let the whole world know. They do lay eggs. They are easy to raise and care for. They like to roost high in trees, so, you wouldn’t have to build a coop for them. I think that they will fit right into my plans. I want to have chickens, so, I’ll get a few guineas, too.
Years ago I was working on a ranch. WE started as soon as it was light enough to see. The mosquitoes just feasted on us. I started eating a clove of garlic every day to ward off colds (it works for me). I soon found out that the skeeters weren’t biting me nearly as much as the others. I guess they don’t like garlic in their blood. Once I neglected to take garlic for a few days and, suddenly, the mosquitoes started feasting on me again! So, as long as I worked there I ate a clove of garlic every day! The reason I even mention this right now is wondering if it would work against ticks? I believe that I will plant and cultivate garlic at my bug out spot. I know it helps other health issues.
Any other ideas?
When I got home, I removed my dirty clothing and tossed them in the wash. I felt a slight itch on my side toward the front I looked down and-YUK-a tick! It was boring away on me! I carefully removed it by turning it (they kinda screw their way in and out) and dropped it into the sink, turned on the water and flushed it away.
Today the spot is a little sore, but it seems to be healing up. This isn’t the first time that a tick has latched onto me so, I think I will be OK. I did disinfect it and put a cover over it after removing the varmint.
But, it did remind me that, if we head out to the boondocks to live, we will have to be on constant alert against this problem. Some ticks are carrying dangerous diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. In a TEOTWAWKI situation, that could ruin your whole day! So, we will have to be diligent in checking for ticks on each other.
I got to wondering if there is anything that can be done to prevent and/or control ticks There are some products that you can apply to your body that are supposed to repel ticks. But, how long would they last in a time of Armageddon? So, I googled “Ticks” and found some information.
“Apply insect repellant and use the brands designed to repel ticks. Follow label instructions. Avoid use of DEET-containing repellents on children. Carefully follow instructions and apply some repellents directly to skin and others to clothing. DEET-containing repellents with concentrations of 15% or less may be suitable for children. These should be carefully applied strictly following label directions. Repellents containing permethrins may be applied to clothing but not to skin. In areas that have a high tick population, DEET-containing repellents may need to be reapplied more frequently than for repelling mosquitoes. Follow the package label instructions carefully.”
One natural form of control that is recommended for ticks is the guineafowl, a bird species that consumes mass quantities of ticks. Just two birds can clear 2 acres (8,100 m2) in a single year! Guineas are also good “watchdogs!” Let a stranger come around and they will let the whole world know. They do lay eggs. They are easy to raise and care for. They like to roost high in trees, so, you wouldn’t have to build a coop for them. I think that they will fit right into my plans. I want to have chickens, so, I’ll get a few guineas, too.
Years ago I was working on a ranch. WE started as soon as it was light enough to see. The mosquitoes just feasted on us. I started eating a clove of garlic every day to ward off colds (it works for me). I soon found out that the skeeters weren’t biting me nearly as much as the others. I guess they don’t like garlic in their blood. Once I neglected to take garlic for a few days and, suddenly, the mosquitoes started feasting on me again! So, as long as I worked there I ate a clove of garlic every day! The reason I even mention this right now is wondering if it would work against ticks? I believe that I will plant and cultivate garlic at my bug out spot. I know it helps other health issues.
Any other ideas?