We are still unsure where Heather encountered her tick. I don't blame the deer, but I don't want them grazing so close to home. This picture of Heather was taken on the upper deck of the beach house. You can see all the wonderful vegetation that is home to many deer (and snakes).
Speaking of Bambi - why are there so many sad Disney stories - Lion King, Lady and the Tramp, Dumbo, Old Yeller. I could go on. Excellent movies, but some very sad scenes. Everyone knows Bambi’s mom dies, yet it’s still unbelievably gut wrenching when watching it. A parent sacrificing themselves for their child is the most noble way to die. Bambi’s reaction is the reason this scene is so sad. He thought they had gotten away from the hunter. Watching the slow realization that he was the only one to actually get away, is the stuff that tears are made from.
Heather still remembers watching "Where the Red Fern Grows" when she was ten years old. We were at the video store looking for a movie and Heather asked if this was a sad story. The VHS box said "Where the Red Fern Grows is the heartwarming and adventurous tale for all ages about a young boy and his quest for his own red-bone hound hunting dogs." It didn't say anything about purchasing a box of Kleenex to go with this movie. Spoiler alert......we cried.
Back to my dear deer. The next morning I went to Home Depot to get stuff to spray around the property. I purchased an OFF product that offers outdoor protection for up to 8 weeks against mosquitoes and 110+ other insects - including DEER TICKS. I know the deer will still roam - and I am fine with that - but at least I feel I can maybe deter the deer ticks.
The bonus find was a product called "Snake B Gone". The packaging caught my eye - it resembled the awful snake that I encountered in my house and on my deck. Apparently you sprinkle it around your foundation and those lovely snakes will stay in the yard where they belong - not inside my house or my deck.
I love this false sense of security that these two products offer. I also felt somewhat empowered. Bye bye ticks and snakes.
Three insecticides have been found to reduce tick infestation by 70 to 97 percent: chlorpyrifos (brand name: Dursban) or carbaryl (Sevin), which are available in liquid or granular forms at garden-supply stores; the other type, cyfluthrin (Tempo), is an insecticide available only from professionals in pest control.
Granular forms of insecticides are the easiest to use and can be applied like fertilizer to lawns and ornamental ground where people walk. You'll need only two applications each year to do the trick. "One spray the first of June will eradicate 90 percent of ticks in the nymphal stage and another spray in late September will lead to an 80 percent reduction in remaining adult ticks,".
But are they safe? For a pesticide to kill ticks, it must be toxic to the tick. But just because a substance can kill an insect does not mean it's harmful to us. The tremendous difference in body weight between ticks and other animals or humans ensures safety if you follow label directions carefully.
