Adders

[Darryl of Sussex]

Adders now active all year with warmer UK weather
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...rs-now-active-all-year-with-warmer-uk-weather

Haven’t seen any this year myself.

 

[Tony]

No, I've not seen any, although I only usually see one or two a year, when I was young living in Dorset we used to go hunting for them and always found some... I got bitten at the Winter Moot by a horse fly, wasn't expecting that! Shows that times are changing fast in the environment...

 

[Wander]

Yeah, I saw that article as well.
We get loads on the North Downs but I haven't seen any yet.
Funnily enough, I was off the first half of last week, when we had that hot weather. So I went up on the downs for a look about, wondering if the adders may have had an early rise.
Didn't see any.
But I did see several common lizards. So I could well believe the adders were up as well.

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

Without warmth, they’re quite slow and so quiet sun-trap verges within reach of easily found cover, is where i’d expect to see adders at the mo.


“In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees”

 

[Ecoman]

Seen plenty up here this year but not since late September/ early October. Should start emerging again in the next few weeks, depending on the weather.

 

[Wayland]

Yep, ticks are already active in the highlands as well, I picked up one of the blighters last week.

 

[Woody girl]

Ticks are active here in the sw too. My neighbors cat has several attached to his face poor mite. I got a couple off him today before he decided he'd had enough of my administrations! Got the scratches to prove it too!!!

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

One of the dogs had this on her ear. She has very furry ears and we had no idea it was there. No signs of illness or lethargy.

“In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees”

 

[Wayland]

I'm on watch now to make sure I don't get the bullseye rash.

It was only a wee fellah so I think it's unlikely that I was a second meal but can't be too careful.

 

[Woody girl]

Bare in mind not everyone has a bullseye rash. If you feel at all flu like,that too can be a sign. If you know you've had a bite and you start to feel achy and unwell then hit that doctors for a blood test and some antibiotics. By the way. Little known fact. The antibiotics are the same kind they use for a certain sexualy transmitted disease. So perhaps visit a chemist several towns away to get the script!

 

[Wayland]

The problem is that I was already recovering from flu before I got bitten which complicates matters somewhat.

 

[Woody girl]

Wayland as long as you are getting better flu wise no need to worry. If it gets worse then a trip to doc for blood test is a good idea. Antibiotics don't help with flu so you'll probably have to wait a day or two for the results but I have a feeling you'll be just fine! Don't worry if the worst happens we'll have a jolly good wake in your memory at the moot.

 

[Wayland]

When I pop my clogs the best thing to do would be to organise a mast sale for all my kit.

Should be popular.

 

[EdS]

Yep, ticks are already active in the highlands as well, I picked up one of the blighters last week.

Tick already out in the Dales to. The dogs have had several

 

[Woody girl]

Looks like we will all have to invest in anti bug stuff everytime we go out. Ticks are so much more prevalent nowadays. Last year was awful for them . If they are out in force this early in the year it realy is a bit concerning not just for us but our pets and other wild animals too.

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

I’m going to find a good pair of gaiters to help stop the buggers going up my trousers. I’ve also added a pair of those tick pullers and some tea tree oil to my kit, because the tick I pulled off Lola the other day is still alive in a jar and hates tea tree oil. Maybe i’ll market a blend as a tick repellant.

 

[Woody girl]

I have some jack wolfskin ones in black. Great gaiters but you can't see any ticks that may have attached themselves to the gaiters. I prefer to tuck my trouser legs into my socks.

 

[Wayland]

I need to replenish the permethrin on my canvas gaiters.

Anyone know the cheapest source this year?

 

[Woody girl]

If the ticks hate tea tree oil. I'm wondering if it might be possible to make your own tick repellant possibly using beeswax as a base and something like olive oil. I'm going to look this up. Obviously it will only be a repellent but if you can repel boarders it will lessen considerably the chances of being bitten .

 

[Woody girl]

Found a couple of recipes to make a spray on repellent for dogs using citronella and rose geranium. When I have a bit more time I will write this out and post it as I don't know how to post links to other sites and I'm interested in something for humans too. I'm going to have to wait until I can get to the library computer but I'm sure those of you who have a computer can research yourselves. It seems entirely possible to use something more natural than deet.