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Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

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Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#131

Post by Y-bar »

SoftTalker wrote: post #28
littlestymaar wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Linen is the most underappreciated fabric. It's cool in both ways. I don't understand why so few people wear linen in summer.

Cost, more complicated in the laundry, prone to wrinkling, and air-conditioning. Linen clothing was more popular before AC was invented.

How is it really more complicated in the laundry? Most of my linen can do 60C washing cycle (”hot” I think it is called in USA) which is pretty much ”throw it in there with similar colours and forget about it” territory.

The wrinkles are a bit of the charm I think, might be easier to accept if you make it part of the fashion instead of fighting it.

Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#132

Post by Y-bar »

kzrdude wrote: post #26
mantas wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ticks are a problem regardless. And they don’t like too much heat. So climate warming may even reduce their population in some parts. Or, more likely, move them up north. Giving relieve to some and headache to others… Lyme disease vaccine would help a ton though. I’ve had Lyme 3 times by now. Thankfully encephalitis stab is a thing.

Norway is projected to have growth in ticks and new tick species because of climate change (warmer and more humid climate), so that's one example of it moving north (though ticks seem to always have been in Norway?)

Sweden appear to have the same trajectory: https://www.svt.se/nyheter/sapmi/fastingar-finns-nu-over-hel... (run article through your translator of choice)

Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#133

Post by WarmWash »

Y-bar wrote: post #131
SoftTalker wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cost, more complicated in the laundry, prone to wrinkling, and air-conditioning. Linen clothing was more popular before AC was invented.

How is it really more complicated in the laundry? Most of my linen can do 60C washing cycle (”hot” I think it is called in USA) which is pretty much ”throw it in there with similar colours and forget about it” territory. The wrinkles are a bit of the charm I think, might be easier to accept if you make it part of the fashion instead of fighting it.

Just a tip, most modern laundry detergents are formulated to handle washing with cold water to save you from having to use (expensive) hot water in a wash.

I have been washing for years now with tap cold water since learning that and it seems to work fine, even in winter.

Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#134

Post by WarmWash »

ravetcofx wrote: post #102
gcanyon wrote: post #80

Seems likely that ticks should go in the same category as mosquitoes -- how long until we use gene-drive tech to completely eradicate them?

At what cost to the larger ecosystem. They are the base of a larger food web. Many creatures rely on eating them

They are part of the base of a large food web, not the base of a large food web.

Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#135

Post by WarmWash »

pcmaffey wrote: post #62
gbalduzzi wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you expand on this provide me pointer to research for this? I am not an expert in the fields but it seems very interesting

The most cited research studied wolves' affect on elk populations in Yellowstone restoring riparian habitats(1). Wolves' impact on the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer has also been studied(2). “CWD prevalence could be halved within a decade and eliminated within the century if a pack of wolves consistently and selectively removed 15% of deer in a closed population” (Waldner, 2016) I don't know if wolv…

Mice are actually the prime vector for ticks.

Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#136

Post by goda90 »

danubis wrote: post #120

Really the best is to check for ticks and weird bruises with a partner every so often. Got Lyme disease from a tick years ago and it was very visible -> a spreading red bruise with a white middle (it get bigger and looks like it's not healing) When spotted some antibiotics did their jobs in two weeks if I remember correctly. I should check the other diseases' visual clues too.

Not every case of Lyme disease has said bruise, and there's other tick borne diseases that ticks pass to you faster post-bite and are harder to treat than early onset Lyme disease is.

The best is to never get bitten at all.

Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#137

Post by Broken_Hippo »

DivingForGold wrote: post #60

Don't know which is worse - - contracting Lyme disease, or Parkinson's disease from Permethrin and other pesticide exposure: https://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2009/09/occupatio... https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27756609/

Your first link talks about occupational use. Most folks aren't going to have that sort of exposure. A lot of things are definitely a hazard when you work with them often, but doesn't carry over into the general population whose exposure is very low.

Your second link speaks of animal studies, using 34mg/kg of body weight in very young animals (rats) between 6 and 21 days old. Animal studies are valuable, but it doesn't mean you carry the same risk of rats. I'm not sure most folks are going to get that much exposure while walking along trails - for me, personally, it would take 1870mg of repeated exposure. I understand that it would take less exposure for children, but an average newborn is around 3kg and the newborns aren't walking along trails - and in most circumstances, neither are their parents. Especially the mother, who just recently gave birth.

It isn't that I'm saying that pesticide exposure is always healthy or anything, but the type of study and the doses are important to give perspective.

Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#138

Post by goda90 »

Insanity wrote: post #5
umpalumpaaa wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I avoid grass all together- especially in the woods.

Or avoid the trails all-together. Given the 30th anniversary of Trainspotting this seems relevant: https://youtu.be/xtbS_PdA198?si=8ba8Fp8_uzdpIq6J . I’m pretty wary of ticks, when you go for hikes just do a body check after. Also, I tend to go with long pants (even in summer, I dislike bugs more than the sweat). Plus a lightweight windbreaker can help to cover upper body. Plus it limits sun exposure which is also ha…

Ticks want to be on your neck or in your hair more than anything, so long clothes can give them a route that you can't feel them crawling on.

Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#139

Post by goda90 »

scarmig wrote: post #96
xattt wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tell me your linen ironing tricks. I have a linen shirt that I dread wearing because of the effort that goes into getting it wrinkle free after every wash.

Just own the wrinkles. Linen isn't meant to look perfectly structured.

On my linen button ups, if I don't iron the front gaps in very awkward ways.

Re: Reducing tick density along recreational trails in Ottawa, Canada

#140

Post by cactusplant7374 »

wahnfrieden wrote: post #100
cactusplant7374 wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's only hazardous when wet. I spray my clothes and then let them dry on the clothesline.

Don't sweat?

That doesn't matter as long as it has dried from the initial application.
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