Over the weekend I collected a giant bouquet of pussy willow stems from the front of the property. There were so many in bloom, I had a hard time putting down the pruning shears and walking away. I spotted an old Christmas wreath alongside the barn a few days ago peeking out of the snow. I need to go find it again and take the wreath apart so I can make a pussy willow wreath for the front door.
First though, I thought I’d let the branches sit for a few days so if there are any bugs on them they can crawl away. 😉 Bugs seems to be a big deal here, and I’m finding more new creepy crawlies everyday.
What is this? The HH says it’s probably a mole… I’m like, nah, maybe it’s a bunch of swollen tree roots and now that the ground is starting to thaw, they’re like bubbling up or something. The pattern is too funky to be a mole in my opinion. I’ve never seen anything like it. What do you think?
My new Mantis 4 cycle cultivator is quite the workhorse and I’m so glad I purchased it. Pretty much every afternoon since I bought the thing, I’m outside working in the {future} garden space.
After I get the vegetable garden area dug, I’m going to dig up a nice long strip of grass at the back of the house where I plan to grow a double row of sunflowers this summer. And after that…. it’s on to the {soon to be new} sweet pea patch. This tiller, I’ve got BIG plans for it, and in my mind, it was totally worth the investment.
Check out the size of these rocks! The tiller just pushes them out. I love it! Who knows… a rock border for the garden may be in my future. Ha!
The seedlings I started a week ago are starting to pop through the soil. Right now the trays in the office under grow lights and I plan to hardening the seedlings off around the middle of May. Ideally, I’d like to put the seedlings in the mini greenhouse but I don’t know what the temps are in there. Yesterday, I went ahead and ordered a Digital Indoor Outdoor Thermometer Humidity Monitor off of Amazon so I can figure it out.
And then of course, because it can’t all be rainbows and unicorns here on the East Coast….
I found not one, not two, not three but FOUR TICKS ON LUCY!!!! I wanted to hurl. Seriously, each and every one of those ticks had a death grip on her skin too. So now what? Obviously, for the first time in her sweet little puggle life, I will need to get her on some sort of flea and tick medication. But what kind? Do you have any recommendations? Because I am NOT letting her play in the back until I get her on something.
Help! I need to know what kind of medication is going to STOP THESE CREEPY CREEPY CREEPY bugs from feasting on Lucy.
Maybe I’m delusional but…
- The tick on the left: Totally waving at me.
- The tick on the right: Is totally doing the Usain Bolt pose.
~Mavis
* If you are feeling a bit itchy right now… I’m sorry. 😉 But ticks are so GROSS!!!!! Gag.
Jeanie says
I use Bravecto and then add a heart worm preventive that lasts 6 months to the mix. If you are in tick country, it doesn’t always stop the ticks from getting on the dogs but they don’t attach as completely. You will need to check her (and YOURSELF) regularly. Poor Lucy! If you are working in your yard, I suggest tucking your pants into long white socks. That will prevent them from climbing up your pants inside and you can spot them on the socks.
Laura Z says
We started using bravecto ( inoral treat form) along with a heartworm pill. The bravecto WORKS and lasts three months. Heartworm pill is once a month. Frontline didn’t work for us and caused rashy dry skin
Mrs. C. says
I use Frontline on my four dogs. Even using that, I do a tick check every day. You have to check between her toes and the pads of her feet, too. Your new vet should do a Lyme disease test on her at least once a year.
Mavis, you have to do tick checks on the humans, too. Some are so small that you can barely see them, so our routine is: spray our clothes with insect repellent, especially shoes, pants and hat. Work in the yard. Strip in the laundry room or wherever, shower and wash hair, put in fresh clothes.
Kim O. says
Frontline or something similar really works. You think you hate ticks wait for flea season. Prevent with something like Frintlinr to avoid the creatures. Protect yourself as well. No more black clothing Mavis!
Knico says
I totally despise using chemicals but when it comes to the ticks, I found that Advantix II offers the best flea and tick protection for my area. The packaging recommends applications every 30 days but I have found that it is effective for almost 60 days. Different regions different products. Good luck finding what works best for you.
erin in ia says
I agree on the advantix. Tried Frontline but dog and cat still got fleas. Advantix works well. I use it from April till it gets cold in november.
Sherry says
I agree as well. Used Frontline years ago and it seemed to no longer work on fleas in our area. I live in CT. We use K9 Advantix II. Still have to check for ticks. They get carried in on the dogs and end up in the house if they haven’t already attached to them. We are a family of 4, we’ve all had Lyme Disease at least once. My husband, twice. Always check, and read up and become familiar with the symptoms. The well known “bulls eye rash” isn’t always a given. As someone else said, your new vet here will do a yearly Lyme test on Lucy. Also there are Lyme vaccines for dogs. You probably already have her on heart worm prevention, but it is a year round must. Mosquitoes are just one more problem in our nice weather.
Peggy says
Ticks are a huge issue here in the east. Lucy will need a Lyme vaccine, and Frontline is a great flea and tick medication. Tea Tree oil in the bath is also good, but as usual, just a teeny bit, but creepy crawlies don’t like the tea tree. Your vet will get you the right medication for her. Remember you need to check yourselves after being out and about. Also, as it gets warmer, just remember ticks don’t like the bright sun, so keeping the grass in the yard cut between you and the woods will act as a buffer, and if you let your chickens do some free ranging, or if you do a chicken tractor, the chickens will eat the ticks, they love them! Those are probably mole tunnels too, they will sink back down once the water is done doing it’s thing after the spring thaw, but nature often takes care of keeping them in control, I’ve never felt the need to intervene. At least they are great aerators!
Peggy says
Oh, I forgot, but you probably already know, Lucy will need heartworm medication preventative too, which the vet will prescribe, that’s another issue this side of the country. I remember when my daughter moved back home from AZ, she needed to get her dogs caught up on the heartworm stuff, in AZ, the rattlesnake vaccine was the big thing. 🙂
Leanna says
I think I read somewhere that tea tree oil (melaleuca) is not safe for dogs.
Tami Lewis says
tea tree oil is safe for dogs and cats and effective only when it is diluted correctly – i.e., diluted in large amounts of water. The recommended ratio is 0.1-1.0 percent strength, to be dispensed topically. Oral application is not safe for your pet.
Kathie S. says
Sorry about the ticks! This year we are trying the Seresto collar everyone is raving about and Simparica together. Ticks are bad in my area. Last year we used Nexgard and we were pulling tons of ticks off the pup. We had used Advantix in the past too but for our girl it made her super itchy. My friend has her yard sprayed too to try and cut down on the ticks. I also hear chickens love to feast on them! Good luck as it is an ongoing battle in New England. Be sure to check yourself too, you and Lucy can pick up Lyme Disease. Canine Ehrlichiosis and Canine Anaplasmosis are other diseases pups can get.
Mavis Butterfield says
Chickens love ticks? Excellent!
Katelyn says
Guinea fowl are the best tick eaters! Might want to add a few to your flock.
Kathie S. says
Yes and as the other lady said Guinea fowl too. They are easy birds to have around and just seem to hang out. Check with your vet about the meds and read up to protect yourself too. We’ve had to switch up our pups meds a couple of times.
Elizabeth says
Guinea hens also love ticks and make much more noise to alert you of predators- coyotes or hawks.
Jeni says
If you get Guinea fowl, make sure to keep them housed for awhile so they know where they belong. Ours up and wandered away and we never saw them again! We also have a lot of wild turkeys and they co-opted our domestic turkeys a few years ago, again, we never saw them again, but I’m sure I see glimpses of them once in awhile when they wander through the yard-LOL!
Carrie says
I went from using Frontline for 10 years to Nexgard the last 2 years. I love Nexgard because it comes in a treat form instead of liquid and I haven’t found any ticks on my pup. We are NC, maybe that makes a difference.
Linda says
I’m in NC too and made the same switch. We had a dog who couldn’t tolerate Frontline & would rub most of it off. It’s effective & easy to give the monthly dose.
Mel says
I second Nexgard. Our dog hated the topical treatments, and it got all over furniture where she slept.
I personally am a bug magnet. I’ve had some very bad tick bites (they itch MONTHS later), and I get an allergic reaction after some mosquito bites. I use OFF! spray to even walk across the yard in summer, but I’m going to try making my own spray this summer (purely because I personally have to use so much of it).
Christine says
Frontline plus dog collar is a very good solution for the dog. For people, once a year I’ll spray my boots with DEET and leave them outside on the porch over night, this helps stop the ticks from crawling from the ground onto your feet and legs. When gardening, always put your pants into your socks, this prevents ticks from crawling up your pants (I live in a high tick area in New England and every spring there are community signs everywhere). Also, ticks like to hibernate under piles of leaves during the winter, so mulching or raking is also a good way of preventing them. Chickens eat ticks, so a lot of people have been starting to consider backyard chickens, so that should help you. Also, possums are the only rodent that eats 90% of ticks, so be careful to not hit any while driving!
Marsha says
Possums are marsupials not rodents.
Cindi says
Those raised tunnels on the ground are either moles, voles, or ground squirrels. We have the latter two in our area and I hate to tell you — but they can be major garden pests. I hope they stay away from your garden.
Ticks are no joke. I don’t know what to recommend for Lucy — your vet should know. You have to be careful as some dogs are more sensitive to the pesticide stuff than others. When we lived in Texas, we used Frontline, because it works on ticks and fleas — but to be safe, check with your vet.
And yeah — you need to do regular tick checks on everyone in the house, every time you have been outside. Lyme disease is no joke! Good news — your free-ranging chickens will definitely help cut down on ticks. When I was growing up we kept guinea fowl specifically because they ate lots of ticks.
Joy Rankin says
Ugh. Maybe get raised beds….
Katie says
I would ask her new vet what she recommends for the area. I’ve used topical and oral medications both and preferred oral (given mixed in with my dog’s food). I felt like I never did a good enough job applying the topical. Also, I like to order my dog’s medicine off of Allivet. I buy a year supply at a time and it is MUCH cheaper than buying through my vet’s office.
Jeanie says
I totally agree about the topical! Plus since my dogs sleep on my bed…I didn’t want that stuff on my bed where I sleep. It seemed creepy.
Deb says
Oh dear, looks like you have moles or voles…when the ground doesn’t freeze before snow falls they tend to have a hoedown right under your lawn. As far as the ticks, well they are worse in the spring and tend to lessen as the summer progresses. They like wet/damp as opposed to hot/dry. I have 3 dogs, and I’ll keep a sticky lint roller by the door to help remove the ticks that I find crawling on them before they drop off in the house…sometimes a dozen or more! Keep the roller in a plastic bag because sometimes they do escape…nasty critters! Your vet can recommend a treatment, as much as we hate chemical intervention sometimes it’s necessary.
Toni says
Tick meds can be unhealthy for you pup… Just read all the warnings on the box. But sometimes they are necessary. I suggest getting your chickens and a couple Guinea fowl as soon as possible! They eat up all the ticks and meds are not necessary!
HollyG says
I’m so glad you’re willing to write about “the good, the bad and the ugly” about your move east. We’re planning on a similar adventure in a year or two so the information is really helpful for us. I’m so sorry about Lucy’s ticks – I’m wondering how would I ever find them on Maisey, the big, white, fluffy Maremma. Please let us know what you find out about treatment/prevention.
Tammie Hirv says
We get ours from the vet and you need to change what you use every few years because they become immune. You have a mole and they have traps for those.
Kari says
Check between Lucy’s toes, too! Poor thing…
Karen says
I think the tick on the left may be flipping you the middle finger salute for denying its tasty meal! Advantix 2 works good but i dont think anything is fool proof. You will always have to check or get a goat. LOL
cathy says
the little mounds are voles looking for grubs next treat with grubX that keeps the voles away.
welcome to New England.
Carrie says
Moles are the ones that eat grubs and voles are mostly herbivorous, eating bulbs, tubers and plants. Mole tunnels are visible like the pictures Mavis posted. Vole tunnels aren’t raised and you will only notice holes in your yard. I had a vole problem once. They liked eating my perennials. I used mouse traps and placed them at the entrance holes.
Mrs.HB says
Watch out for any with the white stop on back …… deer ticks cause lime disease . And in you would cause a red ring ….. antibiotics would be in your future . Wait till you find a “swollen” tick . They are full of blood and watch out if you pop it !!!!! Fun times ahead Ms. Mavis ;)! Miss you !
Helen in Meridian says
It’s good to hear from you Mrs. HB.
Kat says
Looks like moles. Guinea fowl are the best at Rick eating but you can’t buy full grown because they will not stay with your flock. But if you buy them as chicks and raise them with your chickens they’ll be yours forever. Please please get Lucy started on heartworm prevention. We moved here (Arkansas) from Idaho and it only took one summer for my beloved heeler to have heartworms. The south and east are completely different in everything!
Ken Newman says
When you put in your raised beds ( and trust me….. you will eventually build a few ) those mole/vole tunnels are the reason you’ll want to line them with some hardware cloth to protect your veggies. Ticks are a way of life in the North East….when you come in from working outside tick checks are mandatory for everyone. On a more pleasant note…being in the North East puts you in proximity to Brimfield….the first big market of the season is May 8-13. I think you’ll like it…..if you’re not familiar with Brimfield….. Google “Brimfield antique/flea market”. Something to look forward too between chores.
Mim says
Agree. The mounds are voles and moles. We have them too, very badly this year.
Tick vaccine is a must for Lucy. Unfortunately, they don’t make one for humans. I would not use anything except Frontline Gold. Unlike the normal frontline, it kills the bastards (sorry, but I hate them) within 4 hours. Which means it is far less likely you will find a live one in your bed in the morning. The worst!
Yes also to Heartguard to guard against heart worms. Very important.
After getting a tick bite in February one year and developing the Lyme rash, we now apply Frontline pretty much year-round. (When it was consistently 20 below in January, we skipped it 🙂
Figure all this will cost you about $300-$400 at the vet. We spend roughly $1100 every year for our 3 dogs’ spring tuneup and medication renewal.
And YES, you and your family must wear protective clothing or serious tick repellant whenever you are outside. I hate chemicals, but I religiously apply Off to my legs when I am going out into the meadows.
As you say, upsides and downsides to New England…
Mrs. C. says
What Mim said! The reason I use Frontline Gold is because it is very effective and TOPICAL – I hate the thought of giving my pups even more pills. Also, a big FYI for everyone: The bullseye pattern that appears with Lyme disease only shows up in about 51% of infections. There is no rash in the other 49-50%.
Marti says
We live in deer tick area. Deer ticks are very small and hard to find but could give the dogs lyme disease. We use Frontline very successfully and our dog gets a lyme vaccine once a year. No problems with fleas because Frontline takes care of that also. Plus we use Heartguard for heart worm. Check with your vet what he/she recommends for your area.
Libby says
I live in Shoreline CT, which is the epicenter of Lyme disease, named after Lyme, CT. First there are two types of ticks: dog ticks and deer ticks. The two you show in the photo are most likely dog ticks, which are larger than deer ticks. The deer ticks historically have a higher carrying rate of Lyme than dog ticks.
The deer tick nymphs are minute – here’s a link to a photo of one on a fingernail to show size: http://ctaudubon.blogspot.com/2013/06/deer-tick-nymph.html
The nymphs emerge in spring and are hungry. Local scientists take a large piece of white flannel fabric and drag it through areas and then exam the fabric to see how many ticks were collected. This could give you an idea of where in your yard the ticks are living.
Ticks are “cesspools of disease” per one of my friends. They carry other diseases than Lyme. There is a cycle of ticks transferring Lyme to mice which transfer disease to deer. I might be missing a step but also keep an eye out for mice.
I third the suggestion of guinea fowl for eating ticks, also wearing white socks over pant bottoms, and daily tick checks on anyone who has been outside.
When removing ticks that have latched on, you want to be careful not to squeeze the contents of the tick’s body into the person/dog. It is tricky sometimes if they have buried deeply.
All this being said, please enjoy New England and know that forewarned is forearmed 🙂
Mrs. C. says
Great info.
There is a tick called the Lonestar tick which has been popping up on the East Coast. It causes meat allergies. Seriously, folks, not making this up. Just do a search on line, and remember that all it takes is one bite.
Lisa Scott says
Yes, it causes Alpha Gal disease. My nephew and my cousin have it from a tick bite. They can no longer enjoy any meat or dairy products from cattle. They can eat chicken thankfully. Its a true disease and one to watch out for especially on the East Coast.
Libby says
Voles love the grubs that turn into masked chafer beetles and other beetles. Their tunnels could be a sign of a beetle issue. Not sure about moles.
As I was driving around yesterday afternoon doing errands after the morning snow, I was wondering if you know about the trick to check your roof after snow to see how well it is insulated. The snow will melt faster around areas that leak heat.
Robin says
Hi, Mavis. If you want to look into natural repellent options, Google “natural tick repellent for dogs” and check out the links – various options. Maybe also get a flea and tick comb and run it through her fur after she’s been outside. And protect yourselves. I know too many people who have gotten Lyme. Our rescued senior dog was also exposed to Lyme in his past. My grandparents lived in Wisconsin’s Northwoods and gave their Lhasa brewer’s yeast tablets to repel fleas, but not sure how effective it is and whether there can be side effects.
UpstateNYer says
I have seen local tips in NY that say to fold your jeans into your socks when doing outdoor work. It looks silly but it allows less area for ticks and spiders to get under your clothes. Also keep a lint roller outdoors near an entry. The kinds with the paper that rips off. Roll it over your clothes from your shoes upwards. Ticks will attach to the paper and remove it from your clothes before entering your home. For Hikers- keep one in the trunk and roll yourself before entering the car.
Kat says
What a fabulous idea!
Bobbie says
We use Frontline. But I will say, having chickens free-range really keeps the ticks down.
Ken Newman says
As an after thought….next time you visit your Vet be sure to pick up a ” Tick Twister ” you’ll most likely see them ( two sizes ) in a display on the check in counter. They are the handiest little tool for removing the little buggers.
Julie P says
Yes I was going to suggest these, Tick Tisters too, mine came in a two size pack, you twist them off rather than tweeze them. Very successful and better for me as my eyesight even with my glasses is not great. Great little tool. Over here we use Advantix but don’t find it very successful against ticks, I have tried garlic capsules with my girls but nothing beats a good check each time you go out and removal,straight away.
sharon says
You can get rid of grubs and Japanese beetles and fleas with nyphs. They eat them.
Susan Dillinger says
Melaleuca natural products has a deet free insect spray (product lists ticks too) that they sell that contans thyme, peppermint, cinnamon leaf, lemongrass and rose garden oils. I have bought numerous bottles for myself but end up giving them away to people going camping and all say it worked great. Safe for children and dogs too. Might be worth looking at. I’m purchasing 2 bottles this time.
Earlene says
All these are good comments, but I didn’t see anyone saying to wear your pants legs tucked inside your boots, that helps against ticks crawling up your pant legs. Ticks in Wisconsin are bad too! Just keep checking. Also, my husband sprays one set of jeans and a long sleeved shirt to guard against ticks , he wears them every time he goes to the woods or the garden, keeps them separated from the others like hung up in the back hall.
Katie S. says
I live in South Georgia, so we have my dog (11 year old mini poodle) on Trifexis flea/heartworm pill from the vet’s office. It’s not specifically for ticks, but they’re always dead if I find one that’s bitten him. He does pretty well with it.
Melinda W says
I’m in the south, and despite having 2 wooded acres we never had a tick or flea problem until last year. (It never froze over winter so all bugs were full force.) I tried every organic house/dog/yard spray I could find. One of my dogs has strokes and one is 24 years old and has seizures, so we refused to use anything in pill form because of the possible side effect. We were losing the battle and I finally tried the Seresto collar, and it was the only thing that worked. No fleas, no ticks, no seizures or strokes, no reactions of any kind, and they last 6 months despite rain/dirt/swimming/etc.
Susan says
Yikes poor puppy! We switched from Frontline last year to Nexguard and are so glad we did. The Frontline just wasn’t working anymore.
You have to get the Nexguard from the vet but I feel more comfortable that she is monitoring him with it.
The place looks great, so excited to see what blessings the spring thaw will bring you!
Tracy Tidwell says
I can’t believe you have ticks after all that snow. Also, here is your warning….DO NOT GET GUINEA FOWL. Guinea fowl will be mean to your chickens. They are too territorial. And, they are very loud. Have chickens or have Guinea but don’t have both together. Please trust me.
FarmGirl says
My parents, both sets of my grandparents, and myself have all ran guineas with our chickens. My grandparents have done it my whole life. We have not had any problems with this. They are loud though.
Kat says
If you get them both from the time they are babies, all at the same time, they should be fine together.
J says
You have voles. They are quite common here in NH and wreak havoc on lawns, gardens and orchards. Attack their food source in order to reduce your vole population.
Our tick population decreased dramatically after removing the brush that grew between our woods and field. Some friends also had success with diatomaceous earth.
Patty P says
We use the Seresto collars on our dog and cat. Before we would find tons of ticks (both on and off the animals), but since the collars I have only found one and it might have just been on me. The Seresto collars last for 8 months. The cheapest place I have found to get them are generally online at Petsmart.
Patty P says
I have Guinea Hens and Chickens together and they are fine. The Guineas are loud and are always in the road…and hate touching snow.
Cat says
Hey Mavis, We started using bravecto for our dogs, it’s an oral pill and it lasts about three months. No worry about a stinky collar or trying to put it on topically. It’s about $60 a pill up in Sask but you know what, it works.. I don’t pull off ticks anymore and if they bite my dog, the tick and fleas are dead. I don’t need to wrestle my dog to try pulling off the little demons and they think the pill is a treat.
Just remember to watch with any new medication in case they have a reaction. My one baby didn’t like the de-wormer and barfed it right back up.
Also tea tree oil is toxic to cats and dogs, so you may want to watch if you use essential oils to make sure they’re safe.
Emily E says
I would say the weird dug up patterns are most likely moles or voles. If that is the case, you will need to work to keep them out of your garden or they will decimate it. There are all kinds of products you can get for them. We use solar mole repellants that only run about $15 each and have been well worth the investment. You put in a battery, stake them in your garden, and they run on and off for the whole season. And they work!!! There is a tick device you can get that’s less than $10 to get the ticks off easily. And there is a shot that will cover dogs for 6 mos to a year you can get from your vet. It’s the easiest way to go. Good luck!
Jeanie says
I have to admit that reading through all the tick comments has made me itch my head about a hundred times! Nasty little critters!
Laura T. says
I have been using Frontline Gold on my pets for fleas & ticks. I’m in Illinois & so far it seems to be working. I get them from the vet for a couple of reasons. There was a scare a while back about some counterfeits & I felt safer getting them from the vet. I think there are guarantees that the companies have on their products but only if you get the stuff from a vet. You’d have to research it to find out exactly what they’ll cover for you. When using something for the first time on my pets I try & do it early in the day ( so I won’t be asleep at night if there’s a bad reaction) & not on a weekend ( so my vet is available if there’s a problem). I also use Heartguard on the dogs. So far, so good! Good to see you out in the garden!
Stephanie says
I use Nexguard on our dog because it is a chewy pill you give them once a month. It is so much better than Frontline or ones you put on their backs because they can get wet and it won’t hinder the effectiveness. So easy too!
Terri says
Talk to a local veterinarian about what preventative(s) Lucy needs. Free range your chickens to keep the ticks under control. Last but not least, a few guineas are great just for entertainment!
Paula says
I use Nexgard, a pill, for fleas and ticks. I use heartgard, a pill, for heartworm prevention. The Nexgard does not keep them from getting on the dog, but it kills them before they can spread disease. You still need to check them after each adventure outdoors. Also, check yourself for ticks as well.
Rebeca Guerra says
Hi there. I will have to agree about the Bravecto. I live in West Texas where ticks are the norm. All of my dogs are on this and it is the only product that has effectively kept the ticks (and fleas) off my 7 dogs. It lasts 3 months (in the winter, I can even stretch it out to 4 months) and if you use Vet Valley (an online store), their prices are pretty reasonable. Also, you will need protection from these critters too! I like using Tick Ban from a company called Yaya. It is a natural tick repellent that works really well for me (and it’s only $12 on Amazon). Good luck & I hope this helps!
FarmGirl says
Guineas are not only great tick eaters, but they also eat squash bugs, slugs, grasshoppers, and many other garden pests. They are also less destructive to your garden than chickens, but both keep the ticks down. 🙂 And I second the comment above that said guineas are entertainment.
Athena says
We used Frontline for years for our dog for fleas in Idaho. Once we moved to X it didn’t work anymore. I swear the fleas here are mutants! We’ve used K-9 Advantix II here and it works really well. It keeps the fleas off her so they don’t come in the house and infect our cats too. After getting a flea infestation a few years ago I try to be diligent about using it on the dog. I believe it works on ticks as well. I’d ask some locals what they use and works well. Different parts of the country need different chemicals I guess.
Lindsey says
I live in Maryland and was bit by a deer tick and got Lyme. It was brutal and took a year of my life between diagnosis and treatment and feeling awful most of the year. Educate yourself on Lyme prevention. Ticks are no joke in the northeast especially. Read about ways to keep ticks off you and Lucy and understand the signs of a tick bite by a Lyme infested deer tick. You do not always get a bulls eye rash. Early detection and treatment are key.
Dawn says
Lyme disease is more of a danger every year. Dogs can get it too, and it can make them really sick. I hate having to put chemicals on our dog, but after looking over all of the options, it seems the safest way to protect her and us. Our vet sells Frontline, Vectra, and at least one other flea/tick medicine. She recommended Vectra, and we have had great luck with it. Don’t take those little ticks lightly. They can make you awfully, awfully sick.
And yes, those are MOLES! Our Maine lawn looks like that every spring…
K in the C says
We picked up fairly inexpensive mole/vole sonic repellents off of amazon (most big box stores and feed stores will have these as well). Just remind your husband to pull them out before mowing the lawn. They work great and no chemicals in the lawn to make your chickens sick or transfer to your eggs. Get solar so you never have to replace batteries.
In that vein, pick up food grade diatomaceous earth as well. It doesn’t harm animals, but great for dusting your coop and chickens with as a flea/ant retardant. Lucy can lick it all up without any ill effects (you can dust her coat with it too). With an old New England home you’re going to find lots of ants, spiders and other bugs making their way into your warm, dry home. I sprinkle on the edge of all my exterior walls and in my window sills.
You’ve gotten great advice on getting Lucy protected from ticks and heart worm. Unfortunately it’s rarely the ticks you see that you need to worry about (although gross), it’s the teeny tiny ones you never even knew about. Daily tick checks for all humans and pets will soon just be a way of life. And as other mentioned pick up a tick spoon/key from the counter at your local feed store; then you don’t even have to touch the buggers.
Lastly as a former lifelong New Englander (made the move from East Coast to West several months ago), be mentally prepared to lose several girls to hawks, fox, coyote and skunks every year. It’s an unfortunate part of free ranging hens but they’ll definitely eat their fair share of ticks and ants, and your garden if you’re not careful (deer too).
Kat says
When we moved into our New Hampshire house, it was infested (and I mean INFESTED) with ants and spiders. I was freaking out. Within 24 hours of moving in, my mattress and couch that we hadn’t had time to bring up from the (completely dry) basement was COVERED with spiders.
Someone told me to get boric acid (20 mule team borax works), and sprinkle it in the corners, all around the basement of the house, as well as under sink cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms (not food or dish/pan cabinets).
I did this and they all disappeared overnight. Literally overnight. In two years since, I’ve seen two small spiders in my house and NO ants (or any other buggies) at all. I vacuum it up and redo it every spring. Almost time to get it done before the little buggers hatch outside and try to come in.
Do not put it where Lucy might lick it up.
For any I find on my porch, I use scrubbing bubbles. It eliminates what’s there and prevents any others from coming.
Jenny Young says
We live in an area that has ticks almost year round. It is awful but I’ve lived with ticks all my life so they don’t creep me out too much. My mom used to do daily tick checks on us as kids & I do daily tick checks on myself during tick season.
Last year I found THE very best thing for my little Morkie to prevent ticks. https://www.amazon.com/Bayer-Seresto-Collar-Large-Protection/dp/B00B8CG602
I buy a collar for my little Morkie & another for our large outside dog. I can’t believe how well they work..we don’t do any other treatment beyond the occasional bath just to keep them clean. I may occasionally find a crawling tick on them but never one that has bitten them. They can’t get wet though, so I put them on loosely so I can slip them off for trips to the groomer. I buy mine through my vet & get a nice rebate as well.
Heidi P says
What an adventure you are on. Newness from every angle. Ticks, voles, and on and on.
I use Nexgard for our lab with a heartgard chaser the next day. Used to use an all in one product but it was a beast to get him to eat.
I get my pet prescriptions from Allivet.com Found them to be much cheaper compared to other outlets. Haven’t tried Costco tho.
Margery says
Ticks part of living on the East coast, check your self and the dog daily. On people ticks like warm spots, over the years have removed them from underarms, bellybuttons, and lower private areas. Always spray yourself before working in the garden or going for a walk.
Gretchen H. Shapero says
We use Advantix on both our dogs with good results. Also, Lucy will need to be immunized against Lyme’s Disease. Be sure to check yourself for ticks, too. Unfortunately, if the problem is bad now, it’s only going to get worse with warmer weather.
Welcome to the East Coast! 🙂
ANNE says
I USE SERESTO FLEA AND TICK COLLARS FOR MY DOG. THE ADVANTAGE DID NOT WORK AND IT IS MESSY. YOU CAN PURCHASE AT AMAZON.
Pam says
My husband is a forester and brings home way too many ticks! Our strategy is to have him change as soon as he gets home and toss the clothes in the dryer for 10 minutes to kill ticks. We also keep tick keys on hand for removal if any get attached. Ugh, ugh, ugh! https://www.amazon.com/Tick-Key-Remover-Assorted/dp/B000R1D3KQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1522788572&sr=8-2&keywords=tick+key
Tracey Morris says
REVOLUTION comes with heart worm med. I get it from Pet Shed dot com/net? Otherwise it is prescription here
Ashley Hauser says
We live in Kansas, after moving from Oregon (never seeing a tick in real life) and finding a few ticks on my boston terrier here in Kansas I about passed out. My husband now sprays the yard with Cedarwood oil from Amazon a few times in spring and summer and now no more ticks! We also put diotamaceous earth on the dog’s fur (it breaks down the exoskeleton of ticks and prevents fleas) and also geranium oil on her neck (now she smells like Grandma!) and also I sprinkle ithe DE in the yard. We are now on year 3 of no fleas or ticks so yayay!!
Kerry says
Check out http://www.healthypets,mercola.com for non chemical help for fleas and ticks. Dr Becker is a vet and dislikes chemicals on pets because of the dangers.
sHARON gOIST says
Hi. We get 50# or more and put it where are little poodles run. It helps a lot. Also I don’t know if you know but to get a tick off wet a Qtip and circle the tick. It will back off Lucy. Then use your twissers to pick it up and put it in a old medicine bottle or such that as alcohol in it. They have such tough skins it’s hard to kill them. This is what are vet recommends. Love your site!
sHARON gOIST says
Forgot to say it’s diatamaceous earth we use. Da me
Tracy says
Mavis,
If you do nothing after reading everyone’s responses to this post, but get Lucy to a vet, pronto, I can rest easy. Here’s why:
75% to 85% of all the deer ticks (the ticks shown in your photo are indeed deer ticks, not dog ticks or wood ticks or any of the many other types of tick in NH) are active carrier of Lyme Disease. Mavis– Lyme’s is NO JOKE. Once established in your dog’s system it is very difficult to eradicate and the symptoms can be chronic. Because Lucy has had four ticks actually embed in her skin, according to your post, she has likely already been exposed to the spirochete (sp?). Your vet –today– should give you at least seven days of doxycycline as a preventative. Get him or her to give you another prescription; if you spot any other ticks embedded in her skin, give her 3 days worth as long as you catch it the same day. This goes for humans too. Exactly the same.
Lucy should immediately have a Lyme vaccine. They are only 80% effective, at best, but it will help. She should receive Frontline (or similar, I prefer Frontline over all others, but I defer to your vet) every four weeks (not 6 or 8) for the rest of her life. Frontline spreads over the surface of the skin and settles into hair follicles, where it poisons the ticks once they embed but before they have infected your dog, and they drop off. Ticks usually crawl around on the dog for hours until they find a suitable soft skin spot to embed. Often around the neck and ears, between the toes or in the groin and armpits. They suck blood for up to 12 hours, and only then reverse the flow and inject the Lyme spirochete into your dog. Mavis, you need to become a Lyme Disease expert ASAP. For Lucy and your family. I have Jack Russells and use a very thinly timed flea comb and comb them every single day to find ticks that are actively crawling and only very occasionally embedded and remove them. I don’t bother with tweezers or any fussy removal device; I just pinch them out, as close to the skin a possible with my thumbnail and index finger nail. Believe me, when you have to remove so many, you get over any squeamishness. My dogs have never once had fleas so I defer to others’ advice on them.
Don’t spray your property. The chemicals used as incredibly toxic, stay in the soil for a long time, and only actually discourage ticks for a short while. Unless you’re keeping Lucy inside for the rest of her life, it’s not a good idea to expose her to them. The chemicals used in Frontline are awful, but much better than the stuff they spray on your grass– don’t use them.
In summary– Lucy’s been bitten, she needs Doxycycline ASAP. Don’t believe me, ask your vet. She also needs the Lyme’s vaccine ASAP’ it won’t help her if she has already been exposed to Lyme, but better to try it now. And get her on Frontline –or whatever your vet recommends– right now.
The tunnels in your lawn are moles; voles travel higher up– just beneath leaf litter or grass. These tunnels appear slightly deeper. They will make your life hell when it comes to your garden. But not as much as the white tail deer who will mow it to the ground, all in one night, unless you have a very tall physical barrier (fence).
All this aside….welcome to New England!
Lisa-Marie says
Best to let the local vet tell you what to use on Lucy.
Use a really good spray on your shoes and pants. Lyme disease is not to take lightly.
Let your chickens roam your yard and they’ll soon get control of the ticks.
The deer coming in my yard to eat apples bring tons of ticks with them.
We use an old technique locally called white flagging. Take an old rag ( light colored) fasten to a stick and sweep along the garden and lawn. The ticks grab ahold and you can get rid of quite a few by this method. Put ticks in a glass jar then spray, and burn the rag. It works.
Those are moles. If you have more than 10 mole holes then you have a problem. Best to get traps. We did after they destroyed our garden and now we have minimal mole problems.
We have 12 acres of property an orchard, woods, stream, fields, garden. Huge lawn. Lots of wildlife and bugs.
Welcome to New England.
Christine O. says
Find a good vet and depend on them for their expertise to help keep Lucy safe from the assortment of fleas, ticks, etc.
Totally agree with everyone that you’ll need to be vigilant checking Lucy and yourselves once you’re in the house from your work(fun!!) time each day.
When I find a tick on pup or people I first snap a quick photo on my phone for ‘evidence’ so able to enlarge to identify etc. Then I cover that little nasty with a little blob of neosporin or petroleum jelly to ‘suffocate’ it. I find it’ll let go much easier after less than a minute or so.
Also the pant legs tucked into your white socks will become you favorite fashion statement to help ward off ticks while enjoying your property.
Lastly, yay CHICKENS! I got interested in chickens because of your blog, but also because the local chicken keeping club suggested them for tick control. A few of my good girls free range, but have a goal to get a chicken tractor going to pinpoint specific areas and let the less obedient (LOL) girls have a new place to check out on our property!
I’m so excited for all your new adventures!!!
Jamie says
You need to get a new vet and ask what works best in your area. And get her vaccinated for Lymes disease asap if she hasn’t been already. We have a big dog and use Bravecto – I like it because it’s a chewable pill and not yucky chemicals we have to put on her body – plus it lasts for 3 months at a time. BUT – you are still going to have to get in the habit of checking her just in case.
Lisa says
Okay the voles/moles are probably eating the larvae from Japanese beetles. If you are seeing a lot of voles, prepare yourself for beetles in June.
We use Bravecto for our dogs and have them vaccinated for Lyme. You need to take tick precautions for yourself as Lyme is prevalent in New England. That disease is no joke.
Jenn in Indiana says
You and your family should always check yourselves for ticks after coming in. Ticks like dark, moist areas so check behind ears, groin area, and under your breasts. Not joking, when my daughter was 5 she had a huge tick in her buttcrack, not pleasant for anyone! Also, my grandpa said they always put dog poop in vole and mole holes, as deep as they could get it and lots of it. Goodluck.
Vicki in Birmingham says
I have been reading about essential oils to repel ticks and fleas, but Miss Priss has been getting NexGard and some of the other vet poisons that I really don’t like using. Haven’t decided which ones to use yet, but when I do, I will let you know. I do know, however, when there is a tick on your pet, you can cover it in olive oil, or in tabasco sauce and it will cause it to back out so you can pick it off whole. I usually flush the ones I get, just to make sure they don’t get away.
By the way, I am SO happy for your dreams to have come true with your move. We all should take a lesson!
Sandy ONeill says
Don’t forget to check the pads of her feet for ticks.
Holly says
Mavis….those are voles! Field mice. Google them! We have them here in North Idaho
Marcia says
Can I say I’m so glad I grew up in the northeast before ticks were a thing?? SO GLAD.
I’ll stick with the earthquakes, wildfires, and mudslides!!
Cass says
Lyme disease is a real problem in the NE. IF you find a tick attracted to YOU or someone you love spend the money, go to the doctor (or nearest Urgent Care) and tell them about the tick (have them remove it if it is still there…ewww…) and get the Rx antibiotic for it.
As I understand it, if you take 2 pills of Cipro upon exposure you almost never contract the disease. (my Urgent care just hands them to me with a glass of water) Then go get the blood test 6 months later. Did this TWICE last year. Has anyone mentioned checking yourself DAILY for ticks if you have been out in the grass? (no matter how short. Had one drop from tree while I was mowing the grass shorter and land in my hair. Ewww)
I have seen both ideas on Guineas and chickens housed together already expressed. Guineas can be aggressive toward chickens. Having a rooster helps with this. I found them aggressive toward my neighbor’s chickens, not mine. (I have 3 roosters) They are LOUD…so very loud…I got rid of them due to their aggression and wanting to keep neighbor as a friend. They Did NOT stay at home. I don’t care how you raise them, they do whatever the He** they want to. If you decide to get some, have a place to give them too if they are too much for your ears. Lots of people get some for tick season and then let them wander where they will go, not worrying about them surviving the winter. (If they do, they do, if they don’t…plenty more available every spring)
Patti says
Essential oils and once you have your chickens, they will greatly decrease if not eliminate your tick populations. We lived in MA for 5 years and I never treated my dogs or found a flea or tick on them thanks to our hens.
jan says
I second the recommendation of the food grade diatomaceous earth (amazon). I have 9 dogs so flea & tick control is a constant for me. I have a little puffer that I use in the house and on their beds. They can lick the diatomaceous earth and it is fine …I know a lot of people who even put it in the food.
While I live in town now I clearly remember the days that I went under my deck for something or out in the woods and the ticks would drop down on me. It was horrible! I hate knowing they are in my hair so check your hair very carefully because they also crawl “up”. I have only an acre in town but when I work out in the yard I puff the diatomaceous earth on my clothes and hat. I also wear a lot of white when I’m out so it is easier to see them crawl.
I use Frontline Gold too. But the diatomaceous earth works well for the house in case a tick/flea is loose in the house. Lyme disease is horrible so you have to do all that you can to prevent it. It has always been so difficult to diagnose (may be better now) that it is truly a frightening illness.
All in all flea/tick control requires quite a bit of effort and work but is extremely necessary. After reading all these comments I’m going to work on getting a chicken house and some chickens to help me! It will be fun to have pets that are actually working for their keep! We are allowed to have chickens in our town but I’m not sure about guineas…their screaming may be a problem for my neighbors! LOL
Gwenn says
Since you’re getting back into chickens soon, you should get a few guineas. They’re tick eating machines! Obnoxious birds but we’ll worth the mild annoyance for the nice dent they’ll put in the tick population around your place. Cackle Hatchery carriers them pretty reasonable priced. I’ve order birds from them before & have been happy with the quality.
Gwenn says
https://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Guineas/SPPAGuineaFowlForTickControl.html
Janet says
Free range chickens will eat ticks.
MEM says
I’ve just been watching guinea fowl on YouTube! They are hilarious and I think worth the noise for eating their weight in ticks.
Toni says
Hi Mavis-
Advanticks is great. There is another product “revolution” but it killed my 13-year old schnauzer. We were heart broken. We will never purchase that again. Stick to Advanticks.
Chickens are great tick hunters.
Thanks for all the pics!
Toni
Toni says
Forgot to mention – if you put some pussy willow stems in water, they will root. Plant, and instant new pussy willows. YAY! Free fuzzies!
Kris says
Seresto collar (lasts 8 mos) or vectra (a topical). I live in PA and we have a horrible tick problem here. I’ve used vectra for six years on my dogs and so far no ticks!!
Leslie says
I’ve never treated my dogs for ticks. Maybe I’m a bad dog person? Maybe just lucky ticks weren’t a huge problem? My sister made a spray that seemed to work for her dogs. Essential oils and whatnot. I think she found it on WellnessMama.com
Emily says
Ticks are the worst! Make Lucy a “new to the area” visit with her new vet and get her on some good tick control. They will know what works best for your area. Keep an eye on your ankles too! Ticks love me and the feeling is NOT mutual.
Tina B says
Ugh! Ticks!
I live in Central Florida…and we have ticks year ’round. I try to take the natural approach for my dogs, so I give them fresh crushed garlic daily. Not only does it have tons of health benefits (heart health, cancer preventative, anti-bacteria/anti-fungal, etc), but it’s also a natural repellent for bugs…fleas, ticks, mosquitoes. It works better than any topical I’ve ever tried, bonus is I’m not putting a toxic chemical on my dogs. 🙂
Jan says
Ticks are scary gross! The CDC has a great article on avoiding ticks and prepping the yard to control ticks. Link: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/in_the_yard.html
Kate says
Frontline can have very bad reactions including seizures and death depending on the breed of the dog (especially Australian Shepherds). No dog should be on that without a vet’s recommendation. I used to use Advantix but recently switched to Nexguard. I still saw ticks sometimes with Advantix, but Nexguard seems to handle it. My neighbor swears by Revolution. You may also want to look into a flea and tick collar on top of medicine during tick season. After a year or two of constant use (don’t taper off during winter!!!) the number of ticks in your yard will go down a lot. A heart worm test needs to be done before Lucy can go on that. You’ll need prescriptions for Nexguard, Revolution, and heart worm medicines.
Ticks use deer as a major source of transportation. Take steps to keep them away from your garden and you’ll also end up with fewer in the Lucy zone.
Good luck!
Wendy Geerlings says
Thanks Mavis for making me laugh about the tick photo’s. I needed a laugh, feels great. Sorry about the ticks though.
Wendy
Janet says
We use Flea Away pills we order from Amazon for our 2 beagles. All natural, no chemicals. Has worked for us in both Northeastern Ohio and now in South Carolina. Our dogs are outside in a wooded area several times a day. Good luck!
Peg says
I truly never knew what having bugs could be like until we lived a year in Arizona. The adventure of moving somewhere new!
Jessica says
We use Bravecto & Heartgaurd, as well as the Seresto flea & tick collar. The collar kicks in after just 48 hrs is only $25-35 (depending on size) and lasts 8 months! We live in SC where bugs are year-round and haven’t had problems once we started this combo.
Staci says
We’ve used the Soresto collar for 3 years now on our pup. They last about 8 months, can stay on through baths, and kill fleas, too. It has been super effective for us. Read the warnings on anything though, particularly if the Puggle Princess gets to sleep with you. Welcome to the NorthEast!
Debbie says
Hello Mavis, welcome to the East Coast.
I live in northern Ohio and we have flea and tick problems. I will highly recommend the Seresto Flea and Tick
collar. They work incredibly well. And they last 8 long months. Previously, we used Revolution. It was a topical
applied monthly for flea and ticks. The cats and dogs were not big fans of the cold fluid on their necks. Putting them in a tight hold to apply, was exhausting and troublesome for us and them. Check it out.
cristinasorina says
I agree with hubby, it looks like a moles digging up your yard.
For our dog we use Simparica, it’s from the vet and chewable. It protects against fleas and ticks and works really well.
You might want to look into getting Lucy the Lyme disease vaccine. Ask your local vet if they’d recommend it for her.
Love what you’ve done so far with your garden!
Colette says
Welcome to the east coast I love your blog and excited to have you over here now!
I’m in RI in an area near water and lots of trees. I use nexguard and heart guard for my dog. The nexguard is more expensive but makes me feel better not putting chemicals on him especially since he’s allowed in the bed…. if the tick bites him it just falls off and dies. It works! And no weird reactions to it.
Randini says
Ticks. EW! Thought of you when this story popped up in my news feed today: https://aeon.co/essays/how-lyme-disease-became-the-first-epidemic-of-climate-change
Sue R. says
RE: pussy willows
I picked and sold bunches at a local gift shop–made almost $200 from clipping in the ditches 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Wowza! I may have to try that next year.
Sue R. says
Let me know if you do and I’ll give you a couple of tips.
Tracy says
pick up a Seresto collar for the tick problem. They work great!
Jess says
Tickborne diseases are endemic in our area (Mississippi River Valley) — we have lost dogs and cats to erlichia & bartonella complications, as well as bobcat fever. We tried just about every flea & tick treatment known to man in an attempt to stop our beloved pets from dying and the *only* thing that worked were Seresto collars. Not only do they kill ticks on dogs and cats (it’s almost impossible to find tick-control for cats that isn’t hazardous) but they actually repel ticks which is really important; once the tick bites, all the nasty stuff is injected into the animal’s bloodstream. For us, it seemed that even being attached for a few hours was enough to down the dog. 🙁
I hate using pesticides but I hate ticks and vet bills and untimely pet deaths even more!
Theresa says
I love the Seresto Collar. Also there is Lyme vaccine available through your local vet. It’s a two series vaccine.
Cheryl Pickford says
Mavis, you need some Guinea Hens. These goofy looking birds are a great, natural tick control. Ticks also can carry a disease that can cause anaphylactic reactions if the person they bite eats milk or meat! Seed ticks, the tiny baby ones, can burrow through your clothes and cause big, painful blisters from their bites. NO FUN at all!
Debi says
Have the vet do the Lyme disease test on Lucy. Also the vet will tell you the best treatment. For my region, he recommends Frontline or Nexgard. I use the frontline. Also do the heartworm medication as well. To top it off, buy some Neem Oil and put it on Lucy and your family when you’re outdoors – ticks dislike Neem Oil.
My friend who farms has guinea hens, and says they do a much better job on the ticks than the hens/roosters do. She has both.
Lauren D says
Oh get tick tubes to control ticks in your yard for everyone! Or make some yourself (wayyy cheaper). They work by zapping the deer ticks at their early vector – chipmunks and rodents – as they build their spring nests with the pesticide laced cotton(its organic), the ticks die and therefore never move onto their next host – you and Lucy.
It worked so well for me, when we first moved in I counted thirty after walking through the yard – and it doesn’t involve dousing your whole yard in pesticide all the time!! It takes a season to work, but if you keep up it’s great.
Best thing I ever did for ticks, we rarely see them anymore, maybe one or two; and landscapers/pest ctrl don’t want you to know about it because let’s face it – they’re losing money!!! We live in SNH.
Sandy M. says
They are voles. WE have them here in Northern New York. Almost impossible to get rid of if you have woods or farms near you. The only thing that has ever worked was to have them trapped but it was expensive. And as soon as they were no longer being trapped, they returned.