Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-05-20

Sheep and Sometimes Men; Veter-
mary Recommends Dipping.
Stockmen now generally recog-
nize that the wood tick is an es-
pecial problem for them-a prob
lem of increased expense in keep
ing stock free from tick-carried
disease. Of course Rocky noun
tain spotted fever affects only hui
man beings, but as a blood-sucking
parasite the wood tick causes gen
eral unthrift, weakness, and in some
cases, the death of horses, cattle and
sheep.
In addition, the tick is a carrier of
tularemia and may produce paralysis
in cattle and Sheppard sometimes
man.
The adult tick lays its eggs in early
summer, which hatch into larvae, the
first stage Of the tick. These larvae
feed for a few days on small rodents
rabbits, ground squirrels, and the
like and soon change into the sec
ond stage of development, the nymph.
In that stage they pass the first win
ter. Early the next spring they feed
again on small rodents, become adult,
and pass the second winter.
In the second spring they feed on
larger animals, horses, cattle, sheep,
dogs, coyotes or game animals, and
lay their eggs, thus completing a two
year cycle. If those ticks, either as lar
vac or nymphs, fail to attach them
selves to rodents and feed, they can
not develop, and most of them die. In
the adult or mature form the tick
cannot lay eggs unless it feeds, but it
is capable of living two or three years
waiting for a chance to feed.
Disease of Rabbits
Tularemia occurs normally as an in
fictitious disease Of rabbits and other
small animals. The immature ticks
Qarvae and nymphs) feed upon these
diseased rabbits and ground squirrels.
II, the next spring, these ticks, now
In the adult stage should feed upon
sheep or cattle, or possibly a man,
tularemia may occur Not all ticks, even
in a known tularemia district, are dis
ease carriers. This disease has not been
common in horses or cattle, but there
were heavy sheep losses in three or
four areas in 1894 and 1885, accord
ing to the Montana veterinary re-
search laboratory.
Wood ticks attached near the head,
on the throat or spine, Of cattle, sheep
and occasionally man, sometimes pro-
duce paralysis that will result in
death If the ticks are not removed. In |
many cases one tick only may cause !
paralysis, though in tick paralysis of
cattle large numbers of ticks are uSu-
ally attached to the head, throat and !
neck. The removal of the engorged |
ticks by any method, results in prompt !
Nothing is known of the real |
cause Of this paralysis but it is pro-
duced by engorged ticks, and in any
case of sudden and general paralysis. |
In man or livestock, during the spring |
or early summer, a careful search |
should be made for ticks, the labora- |
tory advises.
Period of Stock Losses
Since the feeding period of the adult |
lick is between March Is and July |
t is during this period only that stock
osSeS are likely to occur The imma-
,ure ticks, for two successive seasons,
must feed upon rabbits and ground |
squirrels or die. Therefore, to control |
he wood tick the virtual determination
II rodents Is necessary. This rodent /
control should be continuous propo-
;ition.
Well-organized poisoning of all land
involved in livestock losses, as well as
I'll the land adjoining, is the most eff
.ective and least expensive method.
poisoning of small areas
has only temporary effect, as rodents
ioon drift in from Imprisoned areas.
The complete organization Of a large
lrea, however, is difficult to arrange.
Many land owners are not interested
n poisoning, or are unable to pay their
snare. ANY stockman can keep down
he squirrels by persistently poisoning
lis own land every year, Beginning
When the rodents first come out In the
pring and putting out poison at inter-
'alS until midsummer, wherever fresh
burrows are noted. The control Of rab-
pits can best be handled in the win
er, either by well-organized rabbit
irives or by poisoning
Dipping Is Necessary
When the ticks are out in the spring,
md the control Of the ticks themselves
S out of the question for that reason,
1t least, actual losses of livestock can
oe avoided by dipping sheep or cattle
IT least twice during the tick season,
he laboratory advises.
Small punches of stock held In a
,hute can be dipped with q spray pump
astened to a bucket or barrel. Large
punches Of stock must be put through
dipping tank. The best dipping So
ution Is an arSenical dip, which can
De purchased as Cooper'S dip or pre-
pared from the government formula.
Range sheep, Landing in May, should
)e dipped before lambing, and then by
me time Of the second dipping, the
amos VIII average q month old, and
vii not be as troublesome to dip.
When sheep are affected with tular-
mia, the disease can be recognized by
he high fever, diarrhea, stiff gait, and
|. sickness lasting four to six days. Such
'heep must not be skinned, for there
s great risk IN contracting the dis
,ase from handling the carcass. Imme-
nate dipping Of band Of sheep, where
ularemia has already appeared. win
prevent further losses, except for those
Already sick at dipping time.
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