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Posted by David Sherman on Monday, February 09, 2009 at 22:28:31 :
In Reply to: Ticks in feb ? posted by cold & wet west coast bruce on Monday, February 09, 2009 at 21:30:47 :
Around here, they're ready to bite as soon as the buds start to sap starts to flow a little bit in the brush on the south-facing hillsides. That's where the elk congregate in early spring and the ticks are ready and waiting. I doubt they're active here yet because the highs are still below freezing, but ticks definitely start out as early in the season as they can.
The basically hang on the ends of branches in a state of suspended animation until they smell something warn and sweaty, and which point they wake up, jump off, and try to bite it. They can wait a long time. I read of some scientist who's had a tick on a branch in his laboratory for 28 years and it's still alive and still waiting for something to bite.