Northeast Gardening: Taming the Ticks, 1 by JRush

JRush wrote:
My sister works for a veterinarian in Virginia, & the majority of the dogs test positive for Lyme. Both of her horses had it too, just recently. The test for Lyme in animals is nearly 100% accurate, & the treatment is also effective in most cases. I would need the technical expertise of a chemist to figure out WHY this is so, but it somehow seems unfair. It IS epidemic, although you will not hear that from any doctor.
I did have a recipe for a tick repellant, that used Skin So Soft, Eucalyptus oil, vinegar - it was awful stuff. I couldn't stand myself. DEET is the best repellant, although I try to avoid using the toxic chemicals. I have found 4 ticks already this season. They hide in the downed leaves, where the Ivy is around the perimeter of my property. I do tick checks every night. I can't even look at a picture of a tick without my pulse quickening. The way I see it, mosquitos, Vampires, ticks - ANYTHING that sucks blood CAN'T be good, right?
(I can still laugh about it!)
Here is my favorite Lyme cartoon