Well not so for the rabbits. I have noticed rabbit droppings twice over the last year, so was wondering if the foxes had done a bunk. Then, this morning, whilst keeping an early eye out for the deer, some creature flashed across the veggie patch. Too big and fast for a squirrel, too fast for a badger. Not a cat or a dog, not that there are any around so maybe de Fox is back on de plot. Now I'm feeling bad about the rabbits ????

April 16th 2012
Better late than never. I have to apologise 'maybe' to the rabbits as the poo is from the deer. So now I'm fencing myself in.

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2026

• 14th March 16:10 Disturbed fox in shed when collecting a dry piece of sycamore. It seems it has a den under the wood pile. Seemed small/young.
• 24th April 18:07 Saw fox run from Harewood Gardens to top of Leo
• 25th April 12:13 Saw fox adjacent greenhouse. I said hello, they turned to look at me and carried on checking the are down to the fence/gate.
• 28th April Seems calm. Stop when I said hello, to see what the noise was :)
  

  

• 29th April 18:11 Saw fox in track as I abruptly step out with a brisk walk to get water. Startled the fox :(
• 30th April 19:54 Heard noise under cabin and thought it may be the fox.Went out and saw it wandering about. I called out and they stopped but only wandered around, back and forward. Same thing happened a few min later, noise, but then I saw it through the window. The slight noise of opening the door and it dived under the cabin.

  

• 9th May 13:06 Walked past the open door, gazed under the caravan, whence I called out, quietly. Then went off down the lane to △

  

• 29th May 14:45 Fox was by the fruit trees. I unknowingly startled the fox by using the mower (< Had seen the fox some 10 days ago too.
• 19th June late afternoon Fox was walking up the track by the gate, again I disturbed it a bit. Saw them a few days ago too

• 

• 24th June Came by whilst I was eating, within maybe 4.5 feet. I actually threw it a piece of my just fried sprouted bread, just a square inch or so. I was surprised at how long it took to swallow, the fox seems to chew of in for a while, and later a second piece.
• 27th June Lying in the track by TLTPU as I was clearing some 10m away
• 28th June Lying in the track by TLTPU as I was clearing some 6m away
  

  

• 8th July 19:16 was standing in the track and then on seeing me went into the △ As I went to get water, in lay down and looked at me getting water, about 7 to 8 metres away. I went to get more water but time it walked away.
• 29th August I've seen the fox(es) a few times over the last month, notably at Tanya and Jerry's where I saw the limping vixen Tanya mentioned and yesterday the vixen was by/ between the apple and plum tree. She is notably smaller that the fox I genearaly see, but equally not to bothered by my presence as i walk by and away to the gate.

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• April 25th 2026
I found a small tick whilst working naked. I though this was early but found a comment from 2019

Tick Count 2019

April 22nd :: 2 One small dug in on left lower abdomen. Later found one crawling up my leg

• May 3rd 2025Found two small ticks on my leg. One embedded and later crawling, again whilst working naked.

• May 22nd 2025Found two. One on my inner thick and one on the my wrist; again whilst working naked. There have been a few in last few weeks

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• May 1st 2025
I found a small tick whilst working naked. I though this was early but found a comment from 2019

Tick Count 2019

April 22nd :: 2 One small dug in on left lower abdomen. Later found one crawling up my leg

• May 3rd 2025Found two small ticks on my leg. One embedded and later crawling, again whilst working naked.

• May 22nd 2025Found two. One on my inner thick and one on the my wrist; again whilst working naked. There have been a few in last few weeks

And I don't mean us humans that consume anything, anywhere at anytime but those little buggers that feed on us, or in this case me. I've been the source of food for many ticks, horse-flies, and mosquitoes.

Although horseflies and to a lesser degree, mosquitoes, cause initial bites and prolonged swelling unlike ticks they do not stay attached given their ability to fly.

Ticks: although sometimes feeding for days before discovery, being small are fairly easily removed; although care has to be taken not to leave their mouth claws embedded in the skin as this may lead to infection. There is always the possibility of contractingLyme's disease(which I hope I haven't as " . . . development of infection is rare" . . . "1 in 50") Diagnosis

Tick Count 2019

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Recently (Feb 2016) I had an itchy area on the inside of my left wrist. It took some weeks before I took serious action. (Update May 2017: Still have a tendency for left wrist to be itchy, seems like either a virus or immune issue?) I thought it may be scabies as they breed under the skin and cannot be removed like ticks.

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Scabies are not as such, blood suckers, but burrow beneath the skin to lay eggs and they are not, as I imagined, likely to come from other animals as those are different and not so viable, although see the final paragraph copied below. No doubt a better term would be flesh eaters though I have found no detail on their diet. Other than a few extracts from wikipedia below a lengthy document can be downloaded from https://www.michigan.gov/documents/scabies_manual_130866_7.pdf

"A number of medications are available to treat those infected, including permethrin, crotamiton, and lindane creams and ivermectin.[6] Sexual contacts within the last month and people who live in the same house should also be treated at the same time.[10] Bedding and clothing used in the last three days should be washed in hot water and dried in a hot dryer.[10] As the mite does not live for more than three days away from human skin, more washing is not needed.[10] Symptoms may continue for two to four weeks following treatment.[10] If after this time symptoms continue, retreatment may be needed.[10]"
. . .
"Permethrin is the most effective treatment for scabies,[34] and remains the treatment of choice.[11][35] It is applied from the neck down, usually before bedtime, and left on for about eight to 14 hours, then washed off in the morning.[11] Care should be taken to coat the entire skin surface, not just symptomatic areas; any patch of skin left untreated can provide a "safe haven" for one or more mites to survive. One application is normally sufficient, as permethrin kills eggs and hatchlings, as well as adult mites, though many physicians recommend a second application three to seven days later as a precaution. Crusted scabies may require multiple applications, or supplemental treatment with oral ivermectin (below).[11][35][36] Permethrin may cause slight irritation of the skin that is usually tolerable.[16]"
. . .
"The most frequently diagnosed form of scabies in domestic animals is sarcoptic mange, caused by the subspecies Sarcoptes scabiei canis, most commonly in dogs and cats. Sarcoptic mange is transmissible to humans who come into prolonged contact with infested animals,[55] and is distinguished from human scabies by its distribution on skin surfaces covered by clothing."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scabies

See Borax treatment