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June 27, 1985 - Facts and Myths About TicksPage 14A The Suffolk Times Facts and Myths About Ticks By PAUL STOUTENBURGH Saturday was a perfect day for taking a group of Nature Conservancy people for a walk along one of our loveliest beaches on the East End. It is one sel- dom used by East Enders, for this, like so many things out here, we take for granted and have a tendency to look on the other side of the mountain for better things. I guess that's natural. We met at Orient State park around 10; notice had gone out to all members on the island. Sure enoua, when Bar - bara and I arrived there there was a group waiting for us. We all knew it was going to be a warm walk, so every extra bit of clothing was discarded and our packs made as light as possible. We started along the bay side, where an impressive osprey platform held a parent bird and its young. To avoid dis- tracting her we cut through the under- brush, wondering if any ticks might be present. Throughout our entire walk later we all checked and didn't see one, but there's always the rare possibility of running into these pesty and some- times problematic critters. We should all know about ticks and be alert to their contankerousness. Your chances of being bitten by an infected tick are about as remote as being struck by lightning, but nevertheless, each of us should know the facts; each year someone is struck and we always want to avoid that if possible. If you have a dog -- or even a cat -- you've probably experienced ticks. I've had dogs all my life and I've picked ticks off of them since I can remember. After all, they're in and out of the grasses and bushes where ticks hang out, and there- Focus on Nature fore are more susceptible to picking them up. Ticks don't jump on you. You must brush alongside a plant with a tick on it. It then drops on you and starts crawl- ing to a warm place on your body, pre- ferably where there's hair. It's then, while it is crawling, that 99 percent of the ticks are caught because you can usually feel them. At that point, all it takes is picking it off and destroying it. What to Do About Ticks Should that rare occasion come when you miss it and it imbeds itself into your skin, try picking it off, preferably with tweezers. If you get it soon enough it'll be no problem. Then again, there's that rare occasion when it does not dislodge itself. Then you should see a doctor to have it properly removed and diag- nosed. As I said, most ticks are not infected with problem diseases, but there could always be that rare chance. A red blotch after you have been bitten, about the size of a tennis ball, is what you should keep your eye out for. If this should occur after a tick has been attached to you, it is important that you see a doc- tor. He would probably give you antibio- tics and you should have no further con- cern. It's only when you get the symptom of the spot and think it's gone away and do not see a doctor that prob- lems occur. In any case, when in doubt, Aluminum STAMEN Mobile Alumimum tvlopue Home Coating Home Coating For mobile homes and commercial trailers. SPECIAL NT��� $3575 5 GALLONS • Prime replacment • Aluminum Siding and storm windows • Asbestos Siding • Sheet rock • Vinyl Siding • Ventilators and • Asphalt Products equipment • Doors (alum. & wood) • Waterproofing • Insulation -(foam products and fiberglass) • Wood shingles • Nails, tools, etc. • Lumber • Paint and stain • Many more items WADINGRIVER STAMEN NESCON U 929 - 8200 265 -8888 SOUND AVE.JRTE. 25A) S1A W��Lurw �� 11112JEtlICNO TYKE. June 27,1985 Drawing Courtesy Nature Conservancy Mashomack Preserve TICKS - -The drawings above show the two ticks we have here on the East End. The one on the right is very small and sometimes only as big as the head of a pin. Whenever you are in tick prone country check to make sure you don't have one on you. see your local doctor. How can you avoid ticks? Keep out of grassy areas, keep on the paths where plants and shrubs won't brush against you, wear light - colored clothing so you can see the pesky devils easily, should one get on you, and by all means, if you were out walking through the kind of habitat that invites ticks, check your- self thoroughly or have someone else do it. Walk Without Ticks As I said, young and old went on our walk and had no encounters, but I can assure you, each of us checked ourselves when we got home. We explored the salt marsh edge and once again reiterated its importance. We spoke of the vac- uum- cleaning effect of the little black mud snails that were ever - present on the sandy bottoms. Their cleansing helps keep our creeks clean. Then we spoke of the salt marsh itself -- how the millions of grasses twice a day collect the sediments that pass in and out around their stems as the tide moves in and out to form an ever- build- ing bog. We told how the mat of grass slows down wave action and prevents erosion, and how the masses of grass help hide the tiny fish that use it as a nursery area. But most important of all, we emphasized how important our marshes are as nutrient factories for the minute micro - organisms that feed the fish and shellfish of our bays. The tiny fish feed off the plankton that are eaten by the next largest fish, and then again by. larger fish, and then those by larger fish, and those again by larger until we at the top of the food chain feed on them. The walk was a fun walk, with lots of in- between stops and chatter while all the time it was a learning experi- ence. The more people know about the world around us, the better our world will be. Save Time, Gas and Money -- Shop Locally!!_ "Any community that wants affordable housing can have it. We've demonstrated that savings of 10 to 20 percent can be achieved by streamlining outdated procedures and requirements affecting housing costs. " — Samuel R. Pierce Jr. Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing. Looking for a House or Apartment You Can Afford? Perhaps we can help. Citizen Action for Affordable Housing is a non - profit voluntary movement which aims to inform and persuade on the critical issue of housing in our community. Persorfs interested should send the clipout below. The more support, the more action. NNNI�I•��N���N�N�N��NN■���� ❑ I'm interested in receiving federal government information booklets on Citizen's Action for Affordable Housing. Name Address Phone ❑ 1 need housing ❑ I'd like to help resolve the problem. CITIZENS ACTION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOUTHOLD TOWN INC. c/o G.F. PROUD General Delivery Southold, NY 11971