How bad are ticks at Acadia National Park?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is terrifying. Especially the part about Nantucket. Not Nantucket?! My beloved.

I canceled a vacation to cape cod last summer because of ticks. Like someone else said, it’s not much of a vacation if there’s something that’s going to make you anxious, which was the case for me. Plus I don’t live in an area with ticks so I don’t know how to remove them.

You must be joking.

Medical anxiety is debilitating for some people.

Unwise people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fyi the ticks don’t transfer disease unless they are latched on for 24 hours or more. So if you check daily you should be fine. As PP said, they prefer a warm spot like between toes, armpits, groin, behind ears. Look and feel for like a sesame or poppy seed stuck in your skin.

If your dog is on treatment it’s not a worry at all—the ticks are poisoned by the treatment and just fall off dead. So you may find some dead ones on your house. Lyme vaccine is also good for dogs.

Also fyi the majority of people who get Lyme do not get long lyme. It sucks for people who get it but it is the vast minority of people. It’s like saying you won’t travel due to long covid. Of course, take reasonable precautions. I agree with PPs about spraying your stuff including shoes and socks and shorts with permethicpn and then using something on your skin. Deet is the best but I’ve used naturpel on me and the kids for years and have never had a tick.

+1

I prefer picaridin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is terrifying. Especially the part about Nantucket. Not Nantucket?! My beloved.

I canceled a vacation to cape cod last summer because of ticks. Like someone else said, it’s not much of a vacation if there’s something that’s going to make you anxious, which was the case for me. Plus I don’t live in an area with ticks so I don’t know how to remove them.

You must be joking.

Medical anxiety is debilitating for some people.

Unwise people.

Irrational fears are irrational.

[Anonymous]

I have been to Acadia 7-8 times over the years.

Never had a tick. Never used anything to prevent them.

[Anonymous]

If your anxious, go to an outdoor store and buy the good bug spray with deet. Wear long pants, either tucked into your socks, or with long socks. Spray those ankles! Long sleeve shirt as well. Both from a hiking store, so wicks away moisture. You'll be fine.

We aren't going until late Aug this year, but went last July for a month, spent most every day from 10-5 hiking, as well as venturing off the path for picking/eating wild blueberries. Wore shorts, short sleeved shirts and short socks (it was warm during the day when we were hikiing), used bug spray and we were fine - no ticks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our family of 5 has vacationed in Acadia several summers, and DH and I have been there on our own twice. No one has ever gotten Lyme disease. We use bug spray, but also most of the trails in Acadia are rocky, so not conducive to ticks.

(Btw after growing up on the East Coast, hiking and camping dozens of times all over, our DD moved to California for grad school and got Lyme disease for the 1st time within a few months of living there.)

This is rare.

[Anonymous]

For people who hate ticks, I recommend not booking a trip to Maine. There are plenty of other places you can visit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For people who hate ticks, I recommend not booking a trip to Maine. There are plenty of other places you can visit.

That pretty much rules out most of the Northeast.

But I'm good if ticks keep some people away from Maine. It's getting too crowded.

[Anonymous]

When we hiked there, it wasn't through too many bushes and dense forest. Most of the time, it was open rock croppings. And we don't lay and roll on the grass like some kids would do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When we hiked there, it wasn't through too many bushes and dense forest. Most of the time, it was open rock croppings. And we don't lay and roll on the grass like some kids would do.

+1

Stay away from deciduous trees and grasses.

[Anonymous]

Hiking and worrying about ticks is not my idea of a vacation. Sitting on a sugar white sand with turquoise waters is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hiking and worrying about ticks is not my idea of a vacation. Sitting on a sugar white sand with turquoise waters is.

So, don't go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hiking and worrying about ticks is not my idea of a vacation. Sitting on a sugar white sand with turquoise waters is.

Do you always post on threads where you have no experience/information to share?

[Anonymous]

I have camped at campgrounds on MDI for 10 plus years, spliting time at the campground and a B&B.

Last year I checked the tick information and learned about how much more prevalent they are now vs years past as well as the percentage of ticks that actully carry disease.

I camp on a platform, I spray to platform with Permetherin, the ground cloth (both sides), the outside of the tent, the inside and outside of the tent fly.

I was under a tree canopy, the first thing I saw shortly afer I set up was a tick on the top of my tent - better not to set undate tree canopy, yes the sun hits the tent in the morning, and then for the next 5 nights I didn't see another tick.

I reapplied after rains.

Use deet on your skin, tuck pants, spray clothes with Permetherin.

I feel you have to be diligent and don't wander through the brush etc.

check yourself, shower as able, etc.

The fact that we have not had many weather patterns that persent (3) continuous 24 hour periods of 10 degree f .. doesn't kill off the ones that are not atached to a host.

I'm thinking spending more time at the B&B