recognizing this in the 1980's, as she noticed an increasing number of her patients complaining they couldn't eat meat any more. I have it, it first started in the middle 1980's for me. I spent a year and a half being vegan (it was the sickest I had ever been in my life). Slowly added fish and poultry back into my diet, but when I ate some beef...yikes!
Didn't realize it was becoming more common, but kinda makes sense if the ticks range is expanding.

But I doubt Orange Julius or his minions are interested in finding either a vaccine or cure.

I suspect that ten, fifteen years down the road, some ranchers and meat-sellers are going to find out why voting for Donald John was a bad idea.

"They are like a cross between a lentil and a velociraptor"

Alpha Male Wannabe syndrome is marked by a preference for large quantities of red meat.

I was just riffing with the slightly odd name of the syndrome in the thread title. I have no idea where you are going.

Alpha-GAL (Galactosudase) is a sugar molecule in cows & pigs but not humans. The disease sounds scary as shit! Alpha male wannabes would probably cry like babies. 😂

People who don't know much about it ask me if I'm afraid of dangerous animals like bears and snakes.

Other than the usual concerns about getting lost or hurt in remote areas, or getting back to the trailhead to find my car has been broken into, my #1 concern is ticks.

There are preventive measures like permethrin and other repellents, long pants with ankle gaitors, and limiting contact with foliage.

But even with all that, a daily thorough inspection is necessary. If you find one attached, prompt removal will usually forestall tick related disease.

prompt and correct removal. Pinching with the fingers or scraping them off will make it worse. People need to have tweezers ready, put it above the skin but below the tick's body, do not squeeze tight, but close it enough to keep the body from getting through, then slowly pull upward until the head pulls out. Some say not to flush it because they can survive but kill them with alcohol or the like. Smashing them spreads blood which isn't a good idea.
When I was 10 on the farm, we would put a drop of gasoline on them, they'd pull their head out immediately and die. NOT a good idea. We didn't know better.

They are not expensive, and everyone in affected areas should have such a tool in their first aid kit.

so long as you're not near fire?

to get a drop is a problem. It can splash all over the place and it's not exactly good for you. But we also used to screw a spark plug in the top of a coffee can, wire it to a car battery then put a few drops of gas on hot concrete put the can on top then ignite it. It was like an M-80 going off, shot the spark plug god knows where and tore the can to shreds. 70's fun on the farm. I'm a grownup now. I'm not supposed to like stuff like that.

Was stunned. The fact these little things follow around humans spells disaster for our health and economy.

of armadillos!

how to protect yourself.


Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Armadillos are the only animals besides humans that are known to be naturally infected with this bacterium.
The risk of contracting leprosy from an armadillo is very low. However, people who live in areas where armadillos are common and have prolonged contact with them may have a slightly increased risk.
It is important to note that most armadillos do not carry leprosy. Additionally, the bacteria that causes leprosy is not easily transmitted between animals or from armadillos to humans.

near the Ozarks have it. No signs of recovery yet.

She lives in a place where people would rather die than confess they can no longer eat red meat.

Some people probably are dying, same as other reality-deniers in her community were dying from COVID, and will be dying from measles, polio, and other preventable diseases.

right into the Oval Office, or down John Robert’s pants, or in Mike Johnson’s big head of hair. The list goes on!

I am in SE Ohio, not too far from Athens. I have a couple of miles of hiking paths through my woods and am out every day so ticks are an ongoing issue. We always had what they call Dog ticks but in the last few years teeny sized ticks started showing up which turned out to be Deer ticks which can carry Lyme Disease. Deer Ticks can be literally the size of a period on a printed page. About 4 years ago the Lonestar Ticks also showed up. They are usually a bit smaller than the Dog ticks and have a distinct single white or gold dot on their back.

Both of my dogs have been tested positive for Lyme disease and my older girl is on Doxycycline antibiotic for another tick born disease called Ehrlichiosis. I was on Doxycycline for several weeks last winter for a tick bite that showed a worse reaction than normal, but I have never tested positive as of yet. Unlike Dog Ticks, these new ticks are active year round, even in the winter if the temps get above freezing.

About 3 years ago I would suddenly get a 'overfull' or cramping feeling after just a couple of bites of a hamburger or sausage. I also started avoiding sour creme as it would also upset my stomach. I saw an article on the meat allergy and it had a photo of the Lone Star tick which I had started seeing. I printed out a sheet from the Cleveland Clinic and highlighted the symptoms I had and stapled a tick encapsulated in clear tape and took it to my doctor and asked for the blood test. He was skeptical but ordered the test. He was a little shocked when it came back that I was positive for the allergen. I was the first in his practice to test positive. He has actually had many more since then.

I now keep an Epi-Pen in my pocket although I fortunately have never had to use it. Getting protein is an issue now only turkey, chicken or fish.
No milk but I tolerate hard cheese like sharp cheddar, and I have an occasional Ice cream cone, but a Frosty is a no go. A reaction is not consistent and some people are extremely sensitive. You have to watch as even a chicken sandwich from fast food may be cooked on the same grill as the hamburger. Medicine Capsules can be a problem as they are often made of gelatin, a mammal product.

So shopping is a pain and I really miss bacon. But I have had an overall recovery in my health levels. All kinds of minor issues happen to your body when you are constantly dosed with something your body is allergic to. I have read stories about people with celliac's disease who have wheat allergies having similar systemic reactions.

Might sound strange, but if a tick actually bites me, I put it in a Ziploc bag. I just looked, and my Ziploc for the last six months has over 25 ticks of all three types. I put on spray and now even permetherin on my pants legs. I could hide I guess, but I enjoy being outdoors.

I am sure global warming has nothing to do with the massive migration of different tick species....

But it won't repel them or anything else. It just kills. It kills everything including pollinators. I think Deet is the only repellent proven to work and you have to use a strong concentrate. It's not exactly good for us, especially kids, but it's less toxic than permetherin. They'd probably bite through the permetherin then die in your skin, but I'm just guessing on that one. You have to do what you have to do.
I used to buy Mooseol (Moose oil) I can't remember the spelling, but I don't think you can get it anymore. It was 100% deet.

Two of my co workers and I, college faculty under the Wildlife Science and Forest Ecology curriculums, took a field trip to Zanesville Ohio with other College’s from around the country, that are members of NAWTA, North American Wildlife Technologies Association.
Part of the tour was to see the Reclamation Projects to re-establish grassland’s and vegetation on the massive strip mining acreage in that area.
We took vans out within the areas and would stop and tally bird species variations in the area. Never got off the gravel roads. At each interval stopping and getting out to listen to USFW scientist that helped reclaim the areas, we all had at least a dozen +- ticks on our pant legs.
I swear the MFr’s could fly.
So damn glad my Career never landed me anywhere like that.
People do not realize some of the hell Forest and Wildlife professionals have to deal with in some areas of the outdoor professions we work in.
This crazy ass tick explosion is scary.
Many of my graduates have to now live with Lyme disease.
And none of us ever, even faculty that take the wanna be pros out into the habitats to learn, got or get paid worth a damn.
My faculty salary would be considered lower or even lowest middle glass.
“Billion ticks and Lyme disease, all part of O-Hio” (to Neil Young song melody)
We sang this all the way back to NC.
And ya got some real blood suckers in political
Positions as well, GYM.

Maybe there's a chant or a spell that will cure it.

and inserting a light bulb into a bodily orifice

Well, all mammals except catarrhines (apes and Old World monkeys).

Considering what's going on the political side things these days here in the USA, we'll probably be hearing more shocking and grave threats, like this.

I take a just a few steps into the woods or fields and I am picking ticks off of me.

I used to go into the local woods and spend most of a day wandering around. I've only had a couple of ticks bite me in my lifetime.

Now I bet if I spent an hour in the woods I could pick up a dozen or more tick bites.

Last edited Tue Jul 1, 2025, 02:11 PM - Edit history (1)

I've had Lyme a few times though, so I wouldn't be surprised if I got this one