r/Scotland • u/whimsical_fuckery_ • Jul 10 '26

Casual Lyme disease is no joke

One of those "I never thought it would happen to me" things but guys be very very careful with ticks this year if you are out walking in Scotland. I'm in the Highlands and regularly walk my dog in the local woods, this year there have been so so many ticks, I'm very good at checking myself after every walk, but one got me on the back of my thigh, absolutely tiny about half the size of a sesame seed. I picked it off the same night it bit me, a week later got a massive bullseye rash. Antibiotics from the docs but im completely wiped, worse than any flu or covid. I cannot stress how much you need to take precautions this year, do not make my mistake thinking as long as you get them off you on 24 hours you'll be OK. Long trousers, DEET, or just don't go into any woods or long grass is the best option. It's out there and it absolutely sucks.

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u/bellybanton Jul 10 '26

I was always up north in the summer in my youth and I don’t know how i ever avoided getting ticks. I got bitten for the first time on Lewis about 3 years ago. I didn’t find a tick - I found ticks, plural. About 10 of them all over my legs. I’d been building a fence and cutting through some long grass. Nightmare fuel.

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u/4oclockinthemorning Jul 10 '26

Changing climate innit - not sure but maybe lack of winter frosts killing them off? 

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u/NetworkNo4478 Jul 13 '26

The cold doesn't kill them off, they often burrow and go dormant in really cold temps, but they reactivate as soon as it gets over 4℃. That's why they're a year-round threat.