To sum up my attempt at an April Region 2 bear in 3 pictures [Archive]

caddisguy

04-04-2015, 10:06 PM

I wasn't expecting much... I have never seen much bear activity (in this area) before May, no matter how much sun there is in February, March and April.

The big disappointment though was I checked in on two of my trailcams where I had put down some salt (40kg) combined and mineral blocks and not a single deer or any critter for that matter. I got more action from smearing a little peanut butter around last year. Hauling 20kg up a mountain and nothing yet... ouch! Thank goodness I was lazy with the second 20kg bag and did it about 1km off a road.

I am excited for May though. That is when things really heat up!!

caddisguy

04-04-2015, 10:11 PM

Ouch, tough start to the season. But better than not going out at all. I did a quick drive on the island today and saw nothing either. Fun getting out though with gun in tow.

2x!! Way better than being at home. I'd still be out there but my co-trooper fell a little ill and with the lack of sign, we decided to call it. Saw a ditch chicken and had some great moonlight though!

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t644/vaporeyes/P4030141_zpsfxfgyazg.jpg

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t644/vaporeyes/P4030159_zpswvfch39z.jpg

caddisguy

04-04-2015, 10:18 PM

Added to my list of firsts too. I have never needed to wear a mosquito net while it was snowing. That was insanely weird.

ruger#1

04-04-2015, 10:46 PM

Get that tick to Fraser Health and have it tested for Lymes.

caddisguy

04-04-2015, 11:03 PM

Crap! Just realized I posted this in the wrong forum.

Can a mod please move to the Mainland Hunting forum? Thanks and sorry

Ruger I think only deer ticks carry Lymes... that one didn't look like a deer tick. Here's deer tick I got out of my arm last spring though. I still have a mark from it... though I believe I got the whole tick out (as you can see its head in the picture) but it comes and goes and itches like a mosquito bite.

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t644/vaporeyes/P1010081_zpsbbad2c39.jpg

Here's another deer tick I found on my jeans a couple weeks ago

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t644/vaporeyes/tick_zpse8pyr4lw.jpg

Funny you mention it though, I have been having some health issues that could be Lyme related. One is that my knees have been crapping out... some days I'm fine and other days im limping around or can hardly sit myself down on the can. There's inflammation but xrays are normal. I have been tested for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus a couple of times. I asked my Dr a couple days back if Lyme Disease was a possibility and he said that I didn't have the symptoms. I thought that was a bit weird that they'd think I might have symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis but lymes disease is out of the question since the symptoms are pretty much identical. That said, he is based in downtown Vancouver so it's probably not something that comes up munch. The other issue I have been having is that I never feel like I get a good proper breath when im relaxed... like my brain isn't getting oxygen. When I'm moving (hiking, jogging, etc) I feel great. I'm only 33... not overweight or anything. My heart (ECG, blood pressure stuff) all came back fine. Just seen an article... some Canadian singer (Avril Lavine or something) was diagnosed with lyme disease and had the exact same symptoms (fatigue, joint pain, breathing issues) ... She was only bit by a tick once lol. I might just go to a different doctor (this doctor is great otherwise so I don't want to press the issue and have him think im nuts) and let them know I've had a dozen deer ticks feed on me over the years and have these mystery symptoms and ask for that ELISA/Western Blot test.

caddisguy

04-04-2015, 11:05 PM

Any way to flag this thread so a mod can move it to the main forum? I feel like a goof for posting in the wrong section :)

Steeleco

04-05-2015, 06:52 AM

Good story CG, I hate damn bugs, it's going to be a shitty year I can feel it.

Next time if you oops and post in the wrong section just use the triangle in the bottom left corner, that will tell us all!!

boxhitch

04-05-2015, 07:01 AM

That was quite the moon last night.
I witnessed the lunar eclipse Friday night , only lasted a couple of minutes , thought it was some strange cloud blocking the moon as we had some showers forecast. Found out this morning it was an eclipse , doh!

ruger#1

04-05-2015, 08:10 AM

Had one on me last month, It didn't bite me. Took two in a couple years ago from Oliver area. When I got home I was scratching my beard and one fell out into the sink. Called my wife and she started screaming, There was one attached to my back. Had them both tested. They were in glass test tubes. The guy at Fraser Health didn't even want to touch the viles. They came back negative.Last year my buddy had one in his arm pit I had to dig it out with tweezers. My daughter had one on her. Wife took her to a walk in clinic . She told him about my cousin that had one. This one was from Rock Creek. This tick bored in and parallelized her. Went in and pinched a nerve. This doctor was from the Kootaneys. He told my wife that is and old wives tail. Doctors in Canada do not recognize Lymes. And as far as I'm concerned the doctor from the Kootaneys is an Idiot. Best way to remove a tick is with the Tick Key. My dogs carry flee and tick collars. Removed a tick 8 years a go off of one of my GSPs. The hair never grew back where the tick bite was. Lots of them around Mission. including my yard.

LupieHunter

04-05-2015, 08:45 AM

Lymes, Lupus, and RA are all very similar in their presentations. see if you can get referred to see a rheumatologist. They are the specialists for lupus/ra and a bunch of other autoimmune diseases. They would be able to tell the difference.

gutpile

04-05-2015, 09:04 AM

You better get yourself check out more , if your knees are giving you probelms
you may have lyme disease.
You don't want to suffer all your life.
i was hunting up in the skagit ten years ago and i was covered i ticks.
had to go to the emergency and they gived me a shot , nothing to fool around with.

ruger#1

04-05-2015, 09:15 AM

http://arthritis.about.com/od/lyme/ig/Lyme-Disease-Photo-Gallery/

scretch

04-05-2015, 09:26 AM

Spences Bridge,up high,ten years ago I got nailed by a tick. Woke up in my tent with a rash that looked like a bullseye and a lot of pain to the knees and other joints.Went to two clinics with no results so spent time in Mexico thinking the heat might help-nada. Fought it for two years and finally went away. Scratched my bald head one day and a black head came out-must have been the head of the little *******. Go to hospital right away if you are bitten.

Grizz59

04-05-2015, 09:42 AM

There was just something on the news about a woman who was bitten over ten years ago and she assumed that because she got the tick out she was safe. Turns out once the tick has embedded itself once you start to get it out it injects it's poison. I would see a specialist right away as it is treatable early but can lead to serious health issues later that can't be treated and in the woman's case she is now terminally ill from her complications.

boxhitch

04-05-2015, 10:39 AM

. She told him about my cousin that had one. This one was from Rock Creek. This tick bored in and parallelized her. Went in and pinched a nerve. This doctor was from the Kootaneys. He told my wife that is and old wives tail. .

Although the Rocky Mountain wood tick is a known carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and Colorado tick fever in the United States, these diseases rarely occur in Canada. However, in British Columbia this tick causes a disease in man and animals called tick paralysis.

The disease is characterized by increasing uncoordination and eventual collapse. The first symptoms, usually a numbness in the feet and legs causing difficulty in walking and standing, occur after a female tick has been feeding for about 5 days. The hands and arms are usually affected next and there is often partial paralysis of the throat and tongue muscles, resulting in difficulty swallowing and speaking. There is little pain and usually no fever. Complete recovery occurs when the tick is removed if paralysis has not progressed too far, but death may occur if the tick is overlooked. There is no known antidote for tick paralysis. The nature of the toxin, likely secreted by the female during feeding, is not known. http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/ticksbc.htm

Salty

04-05-2015, 10:42 AM

Good on ya for getting out right out of the gates caddis :)

Ticks. .. never had the privilege mind you there's none around here too stinkin wet. So how are you guys picking them up, off of grass, shrubs, trees? Seem to hear a lot more of these bastids these days than you used to

Daybreak

04-05-2015, 11:02 AM

Lots of them in the Okanagan. I picked at least 8 of them off my pants legs a few weeks ago and one off my hat. During the Spring season I wear long socks and keep my pant legs tucked inside the socks. I do a quick visual check of myself frequently, focusing on my pant legs, sleeves, neck and hat. If I'm finding ticks on me I will find an open rocky area and strip down to my shorts and do a full check every two hours or so. I check each piece of clothing before folding it and placing them on a rock.

My understanding is that they gather on the ends of small shrubs and tall grass and simply lie in wait for some thing warm to brush by. They immediately let go of the shrub and latch on to the warm body as it passes. Then they have a tendency to crawl upwards in search of skin. This explains why you usually find them crawling up your pant leg.

Once back to the truck I do a final thorough check and put most of my gear and clothes in the truck box as they can be harboured on your pack or clothing only to appear a day or two later on you! Once home, running your gear in a hot dryer will eliminate them.

Once the summer heat arrives they seem to subside and are not really an issue.

Elkaddict

04-05-2015, 11:23 AM

CG, pay good heed to the advice given, as you have been in contact with numerous ticks AND are exhibiting symptoms it would be very wise to get checked out. Make sure though that you find a "Lyme literate" doctor, otherwise you will get the brush off. Most doctors do not want to deal with Lyme. Period. You are on the right track with western blot test. IGENEX, in the States is probably one of, if not the best. Testing in Canada is almost useless as they only test for a fraction of the bacteria that can cause Lyme. The longer you have it, the harder it is to get rid of, and if it becomes chronic some never do. So, it is something you want to deal with sooner rather than later. Cheers. http://canlyme.com

ruger#1

04-05-2015, 01:23 PM

Thanks Boxhitch

Although the Rocky Mountain wood tick is a known carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and Colorado tick fever in the United States, these diseases rarely occur in Canada. However, in British Columbia this tick causes a disease in man and animals called tick paralysis.

The disease is characterized by increasing uncoordination and eventual collapse. The first symptoms, usually a numbness in the feet and legs causing difficulty in walking and standing, occur after a female tick has been feeding for about 5 days. The hands and arms are usually affected next and there is often partial paralysis of the throat and tongue muscles, resulting in difficulty swallowing and speaking. There is little pain and usually no fever. Complete recovery occurs when the tick is removed if paralysis has not progressed too far, but death may occur if the tick is overlooked. There is no known antidote for tick paralysis. The nature of the toxin, likely secreted by the female during feeding, is not known.

They were lucky. They bought her to the Abbotsford doctor. The doctor there didn't know what was going on. Until a nurse was giving her a sponge bath, And they found the back half of the tick. Doctors removed the other half , And she was back to normal. She has two kids and is in good health. All the time I have hunted Hat Creek, Sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag, And never got one.

caddisguy

04-05-2015, 01:36 PM

Wow thanks for all the responses. I'll see about getting a referal to a rheumatologist or finding a lyme literate doctor... maybe even look for a place across the line who does the tests.

Some good advice here too about avoiding ticks. I never actually thought there were enough ticks in Region 2 to actually have a risk of getting one. Then I started doing more bush whacking in the spring (scouting and spring bear hunting) rather than lake fishing and realized there are plenty. Summer and fall, you would hardly notice they exist. That said, I've only ever had 1 fall region 3 tick.

I tuck my pants into my shoes. We do a quick visual check of our clothes every 20 mins or so. I try to move brush/branches out of the way with my hands when possible to avoid contact with my clothes. I also scan the brush as I walk through. Adult deer ticks are fairly easy to spot... almost the size and color of ladybugs. Smaller black ones are a pain... they can be as small as a pin head and very difficult to notice. Another thing I noticed while trying to squish a deer tick with my finger nail was how flexible their abdomen is. They are designed to get in tight spaces and withstand being scratched, squished or bitten to an extent. I'm confident pants in shoes only slows them down... even spandex couldn't keep out the biggest ones. Also if I am driving overgrown goat trails, I keep the windows rolled all the way up. Even the soft top on the jeep gets ticks.

Back to spring bear hunting, we're going to wait until May or reports of bear sign or bears down in our area. I think we did everything we could. First checked our hotspots on the grassy south facing slopes looking for sign... 3 hour hike to one of our trailcams checking for sign. Last ditch effort, we checked patches of skunk cabbage in various drainages looking for tracks. I'm actually a litte sore (legs, arms and shoulders) from all the hiking and climbing. Great workout!!

ratherbefishin

04-05-2015, 01:47 PM

Doesn't Lee Valley sell a plastic tic remover?

ruger#1

04-05-2015, 01:54 PM

Doesn't Lee Valley sell a plastic tic remover?

Canadian Tire, Superstore and Waly Mart. I have seen them there, Some Vets offices. I like the Tick Key. It can also be used as a key chain, And is made of aluminum.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?cat=2%2C51555&p=67728

ruger#1

04-05-2015, 02:02 PM

https://youtu.be/sI84HnzKKX0

caddisguy

04-05-2015, 02:22 PM

Update: Despite pants tucked in boots, one got in my sock. Got a nice sore on top of my foot with only a leg stuck to it. Got nailed in the back of my leg too. Hate those things!!! They're too good at what they do.

Ohwildwon

04-05-2015, 10:23 PM

Definitely recommend gaiters.....

Lionhill

04-06-2015, 07:17 AM

Lavender oil. http://www.ehow.com/info_8297597_lavender-oil-tick-repellent.html

Stink like a hippy, but works to repel them.

L

tigrr

04-06-2015, 07:24 AM

Most insect repellants keep tics off you for 8 hours. I spray it right on the outside of my clothes. Cheap insurance. Some days having really sensitive skin helps. I can feel them crawling on me. Time to dig out the deepwoods off.

mikeman20

04-06-2015, 08:17 AM

Ugh ticks give me the shivers. I've never been bitten, but I've caught several on me before they got me. Woke up in the middle of the night one time in tulameen with one crawling on my chest.

Lastcar

04-06-2015, 09:04 AM

Dr Ernie Murakami in Hope has been working hard bringing Lyme disease to the forefront.

I have never been a patient of his but had many dealings with him as a healthcare professional in a previous career. Always thought highly of him and his dedication to the wellness of his patients.

He will take all the ticks and have them tested. Dead or alive.

He is exploring some interesting treatments for Lyme disease and I hope he makes the progress he hopes. He is getting on in years but I suspect he won't stop until he gets the healthcare system and his peers to acknowledge a very serious situation and what he deems proper treatment.

He also developed two of the methods used today in hospital settings to remove ticks.

Check out his site here. It is a bit clunky but you can find what you need with a little patience.

http://www.murakamicentreforlyme.org/

russm86

04-06-2015, 09:51 AM

Repellents suck, I have had ticks and mosquitoes and black flys all on me when I'm covered in the highest deet you can buy. The best way to "repel" is to be on the offensive so I prefer to use permethrin. It KILLS INSECTS ON CONTACT!!! Also, it is actually safer, and has less possible health effects, than deet on humans, dogs, and livestock (though may harm cats, fish, and lizards). It is a more natural product as well as it comes from chrysanthemum flowers and you don't even need to put it on your skin, you spray it on your clothes and boots (or let them soak in it) and it kills the ticks as they land and crawl up your pant leg. It also stays on your gear through multiple washes.

caddisguy

04-06-2015, 04:39 PM

The fun continues. Found this little (actually pretty darn big) bundle of joy crawling up the bathroom door a few minutes ago. It's like some kind of tick apocalypse in my apartment. No blood in this one luckily, so I don't think he got either of us. Who wants to come hang out at caddisguy's place? Thinking I'm gonna get a big old can of raid and spray everything down including myself lol ... why do things things exist? I thought all gods creatures were supposed to be useful in some way. I can see how mosquitoes are important to the ecosystem, but I fail to see how ticks benefit anything on the planet. Maybe they protect bears from hunters... sure makes me want to stick to road hunting for the spring ;-P

http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t644/vaporeyes/P4060201_zpsoyoizemf.jpg

Wentrot

04-06-2015, 04:52 PM

You are some sort of a tick magnet. That's a shitty curse to have!

caddisguy

04-06-2015, 05:15 PM

yeah. seems like I managed to collect nymph and adult female and adult male specimens of both deer ticks and dog ticks on a one nighter trip. at least I'm good at catching some type of critter!! :)

Barracuda

04-08-2015, 06:18 PM

why are the ticks so bad this year . its got me check check and triple checking everything the dogs my socks any crawly feeing

caddisguy

04-08-2015, 08:57 PM

why are the ticks so bad this year . its got me check check and triple checking everything the dogs my socks any crawly feeing

Yeah I duno. Not cool. Put down the same tracks I made last spring and got 4x the ticks in two one-nighter trips than I did all season last year. Definitely check whenever you get that crawling or pinching sensation even if it's a pain. I felt a little itch on my foot and ignored it figuring there was no way it got between my tucked in pants and my socks, then down my tight socks, but sure enough that's one of the places I got nailed. Busted a couple others on my legs before they chowed down, but also missed a couple others that did. Found another one on Sunday in the barrel of my 30-06 of all places, he got a good dose of solvent. I'm guessing it crawled in there while the rifle was cased, but it made me half wonder what would have happened if I took a shot with a 30cal tick in the pipe lol

scretch

04-08-2015, 09:05 PM

It's enough to really tick a guy off! Sorry,could not resist.

keoke

04-08-2015, 09:23 PM

All the air including the tick would push out before the bullet took care of it.

Barracuda

04-08-2015, 10:24 PM

horses in the area are covered the cattle are getting tons and a few properties plan to burn for a bit of control. wonder how the moose deer and elk are doing

Jagermeister

04-09-2015, 01:44 AM

If you find one attached to your hide, DO NOT SQUEEZE THE LITTLE *******. YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE HIM PUKE INTO YOUR BODY.
JUST BECAUSE HEALTH CANADA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE LYMES DISEASE, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT LYMES DISEASE DOES NOT EXIST IN CANADA. IT MEANS THAT THE CANADIAN MEDICAL AUTHORITY IS A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT!

hardnocks

04-09-2015, 07:31 AM

Turkey hunting one april down at Christina lake three of us had hundreds of tick on us . We were combing them out of our hear. Other then that I can`t say I have ever had a tick on me . And that's a life time of being in the bush.

Sylus

04-10-2015, 12:22 AM

Went for a shed hunting trip 2 weekends back and found 2 crawling on me over the course of the weekend. When one of our party went home he ended up finding 6 all on his head the nest day! 2 things at play here, he was the only one with long hair and was the least diligent in checking himself over for ticks periodically. He went to a walk in and the doc put him on a 10 day course of antibiotics without the ticks even being tested. I guess some docs don't like to mess with the possibility of Lyme.

Blk Arrow

04-10-2015, 10:15 PM

You are some sort of a tick magnet. That's a shitty curse to have!
Funny but possibly true! We would do tick checks after a hike when I was a kid in the West Kootenays. Mom would generally find them on my father and older sister while usually my younger sister and I would be clean.

Repellents suck, I have had ticks and mosquitoes and black flys all on me when I'm covered in the highest deet you can buy. The best way to "repel" is to be on the offensive so I prefer to use permethrin. It KILLS INSECTS ON CONTACT!!! Also, it is actually safer, and has less possible health effects, than deet on humans, dogs, and livestock (though may harm cats, fish, and lizards). It is a more natural product as well as it comes from chrysanthemum flowers and you don't even need to put it on your skin, you spray it on your clothes and boots (or let them soak in it) and it kills the ticks as they land and crawl up your pant leg. It also stays on your gear through multiple washes.
I believe this is one such product (https://sawyer.com/products/permethrin-premium-insect-repellent/?gclid=CN6QuaO87cQCFYOTfgodIWkAyA).

ruger#1

04-11-2015, 07:49 AM

Funny but possibly true! We would do tick checks after a hike when I was a kid in the West Kootenays. Mom would generally find them on my father and older sister while usually my younger sister and I would be clean.

I believe this is one such product (https://sawyer.com/products/permethrin-premium-insect-repellent/?gclid=CN6QuaO87cQCFYOTfgodIWkAyA).

Might be a hard time getting it across the border.

ruger#1

04-11-2015, 07:50 AM

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?116786-Powassan-virus-spread

Blk Arrow

04-11-2015, 09:12 AM

Might be a hard time getting it across the border.

My daughter purchased it in Canada prior to a trip to Africa. A quick search found it available online in Canada but I do not know which retailers in B.C. carry it.

ruger#1

04-11-2015, 09:24 AM

My daughter purchased it in Canada prior to a trip to Africa. A quick search found it available online in Canada but I do not know which retailers in B.C. carry it.

Can you ask her Please. Lots of them in the valley. I use ,Zodiac Premise 2000 Flea spray, for the cabin and house carpets. It has a 7 month residual action against pre-adult fleas. I think it would be okay in a wall tent also. It also kills ticks. I need something for cloths. Oly's pet connection. $26.99

ruger#1

04-11-2015, 09:43 AM

This store used to have it. https://www.camouflage.ca/

Blk Arrow

04-11-2015, 10:17 PM

Can you ask her Please. Lots of them in the valley. I use , Premise 2000 Flea spray for the cabin and house carpets. It has a 7 month residual action against pre-adult fleas. I think it would be okay in a wall tent also. It also kills ticks. I need something for cloths. Oly's pet connection. $26.99
Private Message sent.

budismyhorse

04-13-2015, 08:52 PM

caddisguy.... You need to run... Don't walk... To a doctor and demand a round of antibiotics to treat Lymes. I personally know a couple people that are struggling to deal with this disease once it has really settled into their system . I'm talking healthy adults bound to a bed with people shaving, cleaning and feeding them because they are in too much pain.

They were part of the "too late" crowd because Canada hasn't recognized it yet.

dont wait.... It's a serious thing and what you have described as your symptoms ARE the story they all talk about. Arthritic feelings in their knees as the start.

not to scare the shit out of you.... But one of these folks killed themselves eventually due to loss of hope he would ever heal and the burden he placed on his care giver family members.
I can put you in touch with his parents who know who to speak with to get the proper diagnosis.

your call.

ducktoller

04-14-2015, 08:52 PM

Billy52

05-02-2015, 01:23 PM

I agree totally. Get the IGENEX test in the states. MD's in BC can only prescribe a couple of weeks of Abx (which is not enough). Some Naturalpaths in BC can prescribe Abx and do not answer to same board as MD's and therefore do not have to follow the same guidelines (they can prescribe long term Abx which is required). I know someone who just finished 16 months of Abx followed up with another 12 months of some other treatment (non-Abx) and he is doing fine now. He was bitten and suspected Lyme. Got no help from MD's. Very lucky. You have to be a strong advocate for your own health. Canada is way behind in diagnosing and treating this disease. Seek help.

caddisguy.... You need to run... Don't walk... To a doctor and demand a round of antibiotics to treat Lymes. I personally know a couple people that are struggling to deal with this disease once it has really settled into their system . I'm talking healthy adults bound to a bed with people shaving, cleaning and feeding them because they are in too much pain.

They were part of the "too late" crowd because Canada hasn't recognized it yet.

dont wait.... It's a serious thing and what you have described as your symptoms ARE the story they all talk about. Arthritic feelings in their knees as the start.

not to scare the shit out of you.... But one of these folks killed themselves eventually due to loss of hope he would ever heal and the burden he placed on his care giver family members.
I can put you in touch with his parents who know who to speak with to get the proper diagnosis.

your call.