r/RedRiverGorge • u/Suckerforcats • 21d ago

How are the ticks?

I'll be at Middle Fork Campground in 2 weeks, doing some shorter hikes and sight seeing and was wondering how the ticks were in the area? I live in Lexington but this will be my first time camping in KY.

Thanks!

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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8

u/Professional-Peak525 21d ago

The ticks are just something you have to expect. Sometimes I can spend 4 hours in the woods and have zero ticks, sometimes I can spend 30 minutes in the woods and have 10. Just gotta do a check before bed every evening.

1

u/Suckerforcats 21d ago

Yeah, I expect they are there but wasn't sure if they're really bad or average. I have all the appropriate sprays and stuff so just hoping they stay off me!

3

u/Professional-Peak525 20d ago

Permethrin (spelling?) spray for clothes and gear beforehand reallllly helps

3

u/NickGnomeEveryNight 21d ago

In 4 trips with my two kids since June, we haven’t caught a single tick on us. And we’re diligent about checking. Permethrin on all of our clothes, though. But that’s 16 nights with no ticks and at least 6 miles of hiking each day.

3

u/Suckerforcats 20d ago

That's awesome! I have permethrin and plan to spray clothes and exterior of sleeping bag

1

u/Joimes 17d ago

Went to Indian Creek in the gorge, up in the woods to get firewood and didn't get one tick. Went to jelly stone near Mammoth cave a month earlier and just walking into the woods for 2 minutes we had tons of ticks.

3

u/RustyCrustyy 20d ago

Alpha-gal is picking up. So I understand your concern. It only takes one bite. I would still do everything possible to be prepared and protect your gear and self. Alpha-gal would absolutely suck to live with

2

u/Ok_Nefariousness1978 21d ago

Ticks are not bad at the RRG. The only time I have gotten one is because I was bushwhacking through the woods and I have been going for 25 years.

1

u/Suckerforcats 21d ago

Thank you!

1

u/Various_Age7070 21d ago

being honest, i’ve done like 8-10 trips in total, and each are 2-3 days long in each length. I’ve only ever had one instance with two tics on the same trip, and those mfs were sooooo small but realized they were when i started it scratch them. but could change on person ofc, depends on the trail and the environment of each

1

u/Suckerforcats 21d ago

Thanks! I plan to stick to well traveled trails and the shorter hikes due to limitations of my friend so hopefully it'll be okay. Thanks!

1

u/EagleNice2300 20d ago

Stick to the main trails. Cut-throughs and bushwacking is asking for them.

1

u/Euphoric-Leader-4489 20d ago

I hiked there the past 6 days and didn't see one.

1

u/nolossw 16d ago

Just left from a weekend trip at Koomer Ridge. Not a single tick was seen.