Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Miniature Monsters Lurking in the Woods

Yes, it rained the night before. I should have skipped my walk until the grasses and trail dried out . I don't know what I was thinking.
It could have happen when I hugged my favorite tree.

Or sat on this log that use to be my favorite tree...

because I actually sat down on it to get a lower shot.

It might have been when I picked up this bunch of grass and hummus that was decaying  near the creek.

Or, maybe it was waiting for me on the end of a blade of grass when I took this photo of a cool rock with quartz growing out of it..
Where ever this tick was. He traveled home ON ME, waiting until after dinner, and then decided to dig in on my right side. I felt the familiar soreness. Yes, this has happen before.
Yes, I forgot to check for ticks when I came home. It was dinnertime and... I just forgot. I usually  do a "tick check" and change clothes when I've been out in the woods.
So I removed him from my body. Yuck! (I'm not going to describe this procedure. You can read about it anywhere online.) Cleaned the area with Hydrogen Peroxide and put some antibiotic cream on it. It HURT that night. It hurt yesterday. Today it looks better. No red ring around it so I think I'm OK.
Did you know that these little critters are arachnids, like scorpions, SPIDERS and mites?
Ghastly thought isn't it?
They lay in wait for you. They drink your blood. If they were big like us they could take over the world. They are truly miniature vampires.
Did you watch GRIMM last night? Ticks... human size, could be an episode on this program.
Ticks climb to the ends of leaves or branches and attach to hosts (that would be ME.) that brush against them. They're opportunist, just waiting for some animal to walk by. They carry diseases like Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They are horrible little creatures.
This one made a mistake. This one is dead. 
Until it dries out around here, I'm going to stay on the roads and dirt trails... she says.

13 comments:

  1. A few months ago I was constantly finding ticks on myself and Bella, I think they were coming out of the tree in the driveway, thanks for reminding me .... I forgot I was going to put Sevin dust all around that tree and up the trunk. Fortunately I caught the little boogers crawling on me before I got bit. And, there was no rain.

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  2. yuck.

    it was a nice walk, but i am no fan of ticks. got lymes disease a few years ago...not a pretty thing...

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  3. Yuck! Ticks! You can't avoid them if you enjoy nature, only manage them.

    Still looks like you had an awesome walk with nature.

    Velva

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  4. I've never seen one nor do I ever look for them after walking in the woods. I must google them and see what I should be looking for as it certainly sounds nasty. Well at least there is one less to worry over!

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  5. So prevalent in our New England area, Lymes disease, treating our oldest dog for it right now. My sister has had complications from this disease for years.

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  6. Not a problem in the wet Pacific Northwest, but my son did pick on up when we went to Montana for a quick visit. Our only encounter.

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  7. Must say, I love your photos though.

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  8. I am glad you got some rain but sorry the tick got you. Hope you got it in time and that you are ok. Your photos are great. Have a blessed day. Madeline

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  9. EEEWWWWW!! As much as I try to honour even the tiniest of living things, ticks are just plain gross! I pick them off of Griffin quite regularly (and pop them into the woodstove) in winter and sometimes they're as big as a coffee bean! We have a gadget called a tick twister. It looks like a tiny plastic crowbar and does the job quick and clean. Also if you put a drop of Tea Tree oil on after, it prevents infection.
    If you don't know where to get a tick twister let me know - I can certainly mail one to you.

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  10. Geez now I have the hebbie jeebies.

    Had to pick them off my kids after camping, I for some reason never got one. My brother used to find them and set them on fire. What a memory, LOL

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  11. I recently discovered your post, and I enjoyed today's story, although I know your encounter with the tick was not so pleasant. In the spring, walking through the woods or sagebrush here in Wyoming can deliver the same results. You do have to check!! Glad you got rid of him!

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  12. Eeeuuuuwww, I hope you don't have Lyme disease out there!

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