Since taking up residence in the Burgundy, we’ve been hit from all quarters with horror stories about ticks! The very day we arrived one of the “démenageurs” rushed out of the bathroom saying he’d seen a tick on the wall. The bathroom??? I’d never hear of ticks before, apart from those fat things on dogs when I was young and growing up in the Fiji Islands. But it seems that the Western European, microscopic, potentially-fatal modern tick is a force to be reckoned with. So before I ban any grandchildren from visiting and before I become completely phobic, does anyone have any sound advice regarding these little monsters - how to avoid them, how to recognise them, how to deal with them, and anything else practical that might help make life in rural Burgundy tick-proof.

Hi loloma
Unfortunately there is not much you can do about ticks. If you have pets, then I strongly suggest that you buy Frontline from your vet and apply it to them every month.
Have a look at the following link, it has quite a lot of information.
http://www.lost-in-france.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=28

Hope you have a tick free summer!
Julie

Hi Loloma,
Ticks in this rural idyll that are dangerous for humans are a new one on me as we have had six summers tick free apart from the animals. However, if your grandchildren fall into that category........!!! Seriously though, I would be interested to hear any other comments on this.

As we have two dogs we feel reasonably qualified to talk about ticks - in our experience Burgundy at least the part we are in is tick-free (around St Leger sur Dheune). We have more trouble with ticks in the Netherlands. That said the dogs do wear anti-tick collars which are much more effective than Frontline (according to the vet) and we have never seen a tick on our dogs in Burgundy, more than can be said for the Netherlands.

It does however pay to be vigilant both for your pets and yourselves (adults and children). My daughter found a tick after a visit to the Ardennes nestling on her hip. The problem is that their bite is not painful and it is only when they are incorrectly removed (alcohol is NOT recommended and not is touching them with a lit cigarette) that they release toxins into the blood. Careful removal with proper tick removing tweezers by placing the tweezers tightly down on the skin around the head and then giving a gentle twist is the best way to get rid of them. A careful watch should be kept on any tick bite and any signs of a red circle developing around the original site should merit a visit to a doctor.
Southern France is however a different matter as the ticks there are hosts to the heart worm parasite that can be fatal to dogs.

Kate

Hi Kate
I am really interested in your comment about the tick collars. Could you tell me the brand name and where you got them from please? My two dogs are treated with Frontline every month, but still get ticks.
So far John and I have neen lucky and not had any ticks on us, the thought of it just makes my skin crawl!
Julie

i also would be interested in these collars
so far been very lucky no problems and do use front line every month like Julie, but an added protection for our faithful friends wouldn't go a miss would like to hear more.
Many thanks for your input.
Lynn