I read a log by Fearlesss0 yesterday where she reported getting a million ticks on her while out on the south spit. So far this year I have found only one tick stuck in my leg, and I used a notched tick extractor tool to remove it.

Recently I heard someone on a talk show suggest using liquid soap and a cotton swab to remove a tick, but a quick search on snopes.com disputes that method. The CDC recommends the tried and true method of tweezer removal, and they go on to say "Folklore remedies such as petroleum jelly or hot matches do little to encourage a tick to detach from skin."

The CDC illustrated tick removal page is attached to this post.

p.s. I thought tweezers were only for extracting logsheets.

They sure do! In fact, Tick's suck!

Actually, I see them all too often but haven't had one embeded since an event on Angel Island in '07.

Easy enough to spray some cutters or Off on the pants before hitting the trails though.

Just be careful of that stuff - it can wreck havok on the plastics on your electronics.

The "Tick Itch" gets me the most!!

The DEET in the repellents "is an effective solvent and may dissolve (part of) some plastics, rayon, spandex, other synthetic fabrics, leather, and painted or varnished surfaces including nailpolish." Never spray it on your arms without removing your watch.

With the description above I would hate to get it on my arm as well!

"As a precaution, manufacturers advise that DEET products should not be used under clothing or on damaged skin, and that preparations be washed off after they are no longer needed or between applications. DEET can act as an irritant; in rare cases, it may cause skin reactions."

I've used Sawyer's Clothing Tick Repellent that contains Permethrin and is supposed to be effective for two weeks, even after washing the clothes. According to Wiki, "Permethrin kills ticks on contact with treated clothing."

Well THAT certainly paints an interesting picture! What to wear geocaching...??

When I ride my bicycle to caches I wear my bike pants. I must admit, not a pretty sight. It does, however, keep the muggles away.

One day I'll show up at a playground cache and Bruhn will be there in his leather motorcycle chaps. The mothers will be overloading the 911 system: film at 11:00.

I will be one of those "mothers" you spoke of and I will hope to have my camera handy!

the spit is natorious for ticks, i was out there recently and i was pulling them outa me for the rest of the day