cybirders, thanks so much for your advice in response to my post yesterday morning regarding tick bites received after birding Huntley Meadows Park (HMP). I've received over 20 responses in one day, plus some interest in the issue of precautions against lyme disease, of obvious concern to birders in the area. I will try to summarize the messages, although not surprisingly, some of them are contradictory. 1. the bites definitely came from a deer tick, which can carry lyme disease. 2. deer ticks are common in the wooded area of HMP. If you go off-trail, check yourself very carefully for ticks (our group, part of a Wild Bird Center walk, went off-trail to look for a singing scarlet tanager). 3. Deer ticks do not fly, jump, or even drop; you must contact one directly. Most likely in my case is the japanese stilt grass that has been discussed here lately (yet one more reason to love it!) 4. The fraction of deer ticks carrying the bacteria that causes lyme varies substantially geographically. Lyme is more common as you go further north. for example, in Maryland there were about 650 reported cases in 1998, and about 500 in 1997. In Virginia, there were about 70 cases in each year (no advice regarding birding in Maryland vs. ??? is intended!). 5. This year there have been 2 reported cases of Lyme likely contracted in HMP. the info about the Park itself is most helpful, and comes from Eric Hynes, a naturalist there. Eric told me that he has been bitten numerous times while working off-trail, and has never experienced any Lyme symptoms. If you are aware of anyone who has been treated for Lyme after visiting HMP, you might wish to contact him: <sawwhet28@hotmail.com> 6. If the tick is not engorged (mine wasn't even embedded), the chance of contracting Lyme is small, even if you have been bitten. 7. It is advisable to save the tick. If you develop flu-like symptoms (and typically, but not always a circular rash), have it tested for the presence of disease-causing bacteria. However, there are no labs in the area that perform the test, nor is the test completely accurate. 8. antibiotics (especially amoxicillin and doxycycline) are usually effective against lyme. the main controversy is whether to take these antibiotics prophylactically, or to wait for symptomatic evidence, which can take several days to several weeks to develop. there is no effective diagnostic test. 9. there are several useful websites which provide further info. Some are aimed at a general audience, some at doctors. The latter reveal how little is known about lyme! http://www.aldf.com http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/6772/lyme.html http://www.LymeNet.org/ anything you read on the web or listserve, of course, should be taken with a grain of salt, including this message; I'm a birder, not a doctor... For now I am monitoring and holding on to the tick as a souvenir. Hope this is helpful. rob Robert Weiner (rweiner@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu) George Washington University Washington DC 20052 202 994 5981