In the first of this two-parter (Waging war on these parasites, 24 May), I promised that this section would focus on the central role deer play in tick bites and the means of combating ticks. Like most things in life, there are perceived risks and there are real risks. Ticks are the latter. The risk for tick-borne infections is on the rise nationally but the risk and incidence rates are expected to be much higher in deerstalkers.
The understanding of ticks varies among stalkers. Seasoned stalkers, who have seen old friends lose their livelihood, mobility and, in some cases, their lives to Lyme disease, often have a healthy respect for our arachnid friends. Local knowledge is the most important factor in reducing the chances of getting
