I've n ot been "blessed" this year yet, but in years past, I, like Margly's cats, got them in 2' of snow walking when the air temp just moderated a bit enticing me to go for a walk in the woods!
The Lyme sites on the net suggest plastic tweezers to gently grasp and apply backward pressure till they let go and can be removed once imbeded.
The hot match, cigarette, vicks, and other irritants to make them back out fast, are suggested to be No-No's.
Reason? They claim that under stress, the tick regurgetates what he's taken in and pumps way more of those tiny nasties that cause Lyme and other diseases into your blood stream!
I've been relying on Permanone base sprays for a long time! There have been times I forgot to advance treat and sprayed my shirt as I went to leave the truck...often wondering if that was a really stupid thing... with the material wet with that gunk...and then sweating... as it's a HUGE Warning to never apply to skin...
Once that stuff dries on your clothes, they claim it lasts through 1 or 2 washings in a washing machine! :eek:
I've watched a couple ticks crawl up my pant leg...about the 6" they say...and drop off stone dead! Amazing!
I've sprayed my entire outfit with that stuff... even head coverings. Once dry, I swear even skeeters tend to come in...and then back off like hitting a "force shield!"
Love that gunk!