(Actual) ticks in Red Rock

Thanks for the reminder. Remember that Lyme can actualize much faster than the 24 hours that is said it takes. Time for a round of antibiotics. Best of luck.

It seems they've been really bad the last year or so....on one climb we counted 10 of them on us & our gear. Every time I had an itch that day thought it was one burrowing in :(

Usually I see many when it been a bit moist and warm...April & May being prime months. Seems this fall temps are a bit higher than normal for October/November but I haven't checked the almanac.

Insect Shield clothing, especially socks, would help a bunch. Dorky as it looks, tucking pants into socks really frustrates ticks, too.

Application of bug repellent is an obvious step. So is a thorough inspection of oneself and partners.

The good news is that they usually crawl around for quite awhile before burrowing in. People I know will wear shorts instead of long pants, just so they can see any would-be hitchhikers.

Further, peppermint essential oil is as a very quick, very effective tick remover. Just dab a little on the invader and wait about 20 seconds. They can't find their reverse gear fast enough!

Reviving an old thread - Current PSA: Just climbed on Windy Peak yesterday and found a tick on me last night. It’s worth checking yourself after a day recreating there.

I've gotten ticks twice in Red Rock and twice at Mount Potosi.  Once was scrambling way back in Oak Creek and the other was at the Necromancer wall in Icebox.  My lymph nodes were a bit swollen after getting bit last time which had me worried, so I went to an urgent care and the doctor there told me that the ticks here in Southern NV don't carry Lyme.  Good to know.  Give yourself a check any time you climb in the canyons in cooler temps.

EDIT:  Had someone message me that they recently got some pretty nasty illness symptoms after getting bit by a tick in RR that sounded worse than the symptoms I've heard for what Lyme gives you.  Make sure to give yourself a tick check anytime you go in the canyons and get the tick off of you as soon as possible.  If you start to have any concerning symptoms after a bite, get to a medical professional soon to get ahead of anything before it turns worse.

Bryan K wrote:

I've gotten ticks twice in Red Rock and twice at Mount Potosi.  Once was scrambling way back in Oak Creek and the other was at the Necromancer wall in Icebox.  My lymph nodes were a bit swollen after getting bit last time which had me worried, so I went to an urgent care and the doctor there told me that the ticks here in Southern NV don't carry Lyme.  Good to know.  Give yourself a check any time you climb in the canyons in cooler temps.

If thats what they told you at urgent care then they dont know what they're talking about.  Ixodes Pacificus, aka. pacific black legged ticks are one of a few species we have here and they ABSOLUTELY carry Lyme.  The females are the ones who carry it.  They have a brown "thumbnail-like" half circle on their "butt."

Bryan K wrote:

 I went to an urgent care and the doctor there told me that the ticks here in Southern NV don't carry Lyme.  

That made me curious so I did a little sleauthing.  If you look at a CDC map, it would seem to indicate the ticks in Vegas (Ioxodes pacificus, black western tick) don't carry Lyme.  There have been recorded cases of Lyme in Clark County but who knows if those are from people who were infected in another place, and came home to be diagnosed there. It does seem to be rare.  But there are a whole laundry list of other tick borne diseases.  Best to get a tick off you ASAP.

This had a nice tick pic:

https://www.birdandhike.com/Wildlife/Invert/Ph_Arthropoda/SubP_Chelicerata/Cl_Arachnida/O_Acarina/Parasiti/_Ticks.htm

But the heads up is useful.  I've lived before in places with lots of deer ticks and Lyme, so I'm in the habit of having my husband do a whole body tick check after a day out.  If you don't have anyone who can closely inspect your skin from head to toe, take a hot soapy shower and feel for them.  If they've just gotten on you that day, they tend to come off with soap.

phylp phylp wrote:

That made me curious so I did a little sleauthing.  If you look at a CDC map, it would seem to indicate the ticks in Vegas (Ioxodes pacificus, black western tick) don't carry Lyme.  There have been recorded cases of Lyme in Clark County but who knows if those are from people who were infected in another place, and came home to be diagnosed there. It does seem to be rare.  But there are a whole laundry list of other tick borne diseases.  Best to get a tick off you ASAP.

This had a nice tick pic:

https://www.birdandhike.com/Wildlife/Invert/Ph_Arthropoda/SubP_Chelicerata/Cl_Arachnida/O_Acarina/Parasiti/_Ticks.htm

But the heads up is useful.  I've lived before in places with lots of deer ticks and Lyme, so I'm in the habit of having my husband do a whole body tick check after a day out.  If you don't have anyone who can closely inspect your skin from head to toe, take a hot soapy shower and feel for them.  If they've just gotten on you that day, they tend to come off with soap.

Ixodes Pacificus absolutely carries Lyme.  Many cases of lyme have occurred in California and up the Pacific Coast, from this very species.

b k wrote:

Ixodes Pacificus absolutely carries Lyme.  Many cases of lyme have occurred in California and up the Pacific Coast, from this very species.

Yes they do and people have gotten it in all over the west and in NV from up near Tahoe but it has supposedly not been detected in ticks in southern Nevada.  I'm leary of this info too.

PSA: was up at Cactus Flower Tower on Sat and found a tick at base of The Warrior, descended via Oak Creek and didnt see any others Sat night after checking myself. Didn't see any Sun in BVC but had another tick on me when i got home - don't know for sure where i picked up the second one. 

BL: they appear to be out, be careful and check youself or find a friend to check you :)

You western climbers got it easy. Was originally from PA and any walk outside would guarantee at least 2-3 ticks on you. I think my largest count has been 12 crawling around on me.
I guess the only upside is you know when you feel one on your skin.

Don’t even get me started about dogs. 

Mitch Steiner wrote:

You western climbers got it easy. Was originally from PA and any walk outside would guarantee at least 2-3 ticks on you. I think my largest count has been 12 crawling around on me.

They could make an entire horror movie about that last sentance. I grew up near Lyme CT. the actual disease didn’t appear in the medical literature as something distinct until 1975. The bacterium responsible wasn’t identified until 1982!  It’s fortunate there is so much more awareness now. 

Got a tick on me after spending time in the Stick Gully, which I will know henceforth as tick gully.....

They seem to be out in full force this year. Last time I saw a tick in RR was 2016.

Experienced some ticks by Angel fool wall in early Feb. Last fall, they covered us while sitting on the summit of Wilson for a few minutes. Bring on the daily tick checks.

phylp phylp wrote:

Yes they do and people have gotten it in all over the west and in NV from up near Tahoe but it has supposedly not been detected in ticks in southern Nevada.  I'm leary of this info too.

A buddy of mine tested positive for Lyme after getting a tick in Red Rocks two years ago. It definitely exists. 

Unfortunate idiots in the medical field (rare but it happens), like the urgent care staff above, who won't acknowledge changing climate and how that's affecting the range of various species, including disease, are going to screw a lot of people until Lyme is well established fact. 

I pulled a tick out of me after climbing solar slab recently. My buddy had a tick in his pack up at Sherwood Forest. Ticks have been bad this year, particularly in the canyons. I started wearing bug spray 

We found multiple on us today hiking into/out of the Promised Land.

I found a tick paired with a small red mark on me several days ago. I think I got it from one of the oak creek canyons. Currently doing a cycle of antibiotics.

Pulled a black legged tick out of my wife's arm, while we were in the north branch of Pine Creek Canyon. Will be sending it away for testing.