The Pudelpointer Chronicles: TICKS.....AARGH!

Not an eagle, but he'll do.

In upper New England, spring has finally arrived. Birds are resting with visible authority on their favorite perches and the blossoms are nearly everywhere. I went up north to help open up a friend's camp and had the opportunity to do a little walking in the woods. Moose tracks weren't as plentiful as other years, and the woods were quiet--with the occasional sound of a chick-a-dee or phoebe.

One lone grouse was drumming, but with my hearing, that means nothing. There could have been a few a little farther away and I wouldn't have heard them. Trillium was coming up, the ferns were unfolding and leaves on bushes and trees were bigger than a mouse's ear. I kept looking, but didn't see much.

Later, I saw something that gave me the "willies".

A varying Northern Hare was eating close to the cabin and I was able to get pictures of him. As zoomed in, we noticed little lumps all over his face and ears. Then the thought came..."Ticks".

Ticks visible on right cheek and ears

Having done a little research for an article on ticks, I remembered that rabbits were one of the prime hosts and sources of nutrition for the parasitic ticks.

This past weekend, I saw the truth of it. This little hare was covered with them--and we could only clearly see those on his face and ears. There were probably many others in his soft undercoat.

Look closely and you'll see them as dark dots on the "rabbit's" face and ears. Those are ticks!

Ticks climb up on a blade of grass or on brush and sit with their two front legs extended--waiting for the next host to pass by close enough for them to hitch a ride. It could be a mouse, a rabbit, a deer, moose, bird dog or hiker. Not a thrilling thought is it!