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I've always been curious as to why some Adirondack waters have leeches, and others don't. Being someone who does quite a bit of fishing at more remote ponds and lakes, even during the summer months, I usually end up taking a dip in a lot of these waters. Occasionally, there are monster-size leeches, such as in Wilcox Lake. Obviously, it pays to try and swim off of deep-water rock ledges. Barbara McMartin was kind enough to comment about swimming quality at many water destinations in her books. But I still don't understand why some waters are leech-free, and others seem full. Can anyone shed some light on this?
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We frequent Taylor Pond and beginning about 4 years ago, the leeches have just multiplied. Mostly the big ones, you can easily see them coming. They are darn freaky. Unless we are actually swimming, we don't generally sit around in the water. The kids enjoy having leech races. Simply catch a couple of big ones with the bug net, draw a line in the sand near the water, let them go. First leech into the water wins. It's strange how they know exactly which direction to go. -
I'm not familiar with Taylor Pond or Wilcox Lake, but a leeches preferred habitat is shallow, vegetative bodies of standing or slow moving water, such as streams, standing lakes or ponds. This explains why they are found in ponds and lakes with "muck" on the bottom, the muck being the sediment that settles in stagnant water bodies. When organic pollution is high, the population count of leeches will soar. As reported in a study by Ruppert & Barnes (1994), there are species of leeches that can even survive drought by burrowing into the muddy bottom of the water body in which they inhabit, so as to estivate (hibernate) until the drought subsides. They have the ability during this time to loose up to 90% of their body weight.
Swim in an area where the bottom is covered with small rocks versus muddy sediment and you will probably not be swimming with the leeches. But of course we can't always choose where we will take an accidental swim which happens from time to time at the most inopportune time and place, such as the one I took last year while fly fishing.
WindsongComment
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It's been my experience that all ADK ponds/lakes and slow moving streams have leeches, it's just whether or not you happen to encounter them. They do prefer mucky bottoms (of the ponds that is), so your proximity to muck relates to how often you encounter the leetle leech.'I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.' - Henry David ThoreauComment
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Speaking of leeches. . . what are you supposed to you if the little guys decide you're lunch? I've heard some tales but it occurs to me that I wouldn't really know how to get them off.Comment
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I'm not sure of the 'proper' technique, but here's what we do:
First, the person who sees the attached leech (on self or other) yells loudly, "Leech Alert!". Then gather all interested parties, especially the children. Calm the leech meal if they are freaking by explaining that we all have to eat, even the leeches. Plus they're mostly harmless and much less irritating than say, Deer Flies or Black Flies.
Now, as far as technique, we don't smoke ciggy butts so that's out. I usually carry a lighter so matches also are not available. Those methods are mostly for show anyway. Grabbing hold and pulling firmly and slowly usually does the trick. Or if that is too squishy or gross, one single drop of 100% Deet will cause the poor leech to wish it had chosen a mammal lower on the food chain. Oh yeah, take lots of pictures for later perusal.Comment
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ADregion,
Thank you for the hilarious and informative reply
Now I'll be ready in case of a 'Leech Alert'. Happy Hiking!
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Why do some ... have ?
Exellent question . Nongoogled or encyclopeded . Because it's too particular .
There are so many orgs with biologists , working on ADK . They know .
I wish , somebody will reply .
I saw my first leech in a pharmacy , in preschool age . Wood-thick glasses interior , mysterious smells , they where in a big glass jar .
Last time it was on Little Tupper Lake . Clean water , sandy bottom . They were strange bright red . Or it's normal ?
Maybe they indicate something about pollution , as oysters do ?
Despite their mostly hermaphrodity they reproduct almost as us - joining in a love dance .Comment
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And all this time I thought they were really after my Frostbite Ale...Comment
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Originally posted by StonerLakeLover
salt. i had one on my leg when i was about 10 very scared i poured about 2 lbs of my moms salt on my leg. he was gone fast."I can enjoy society in a room; but out of doors, nature is company enough for me."Comment
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Salt really is one of the best methods, and it only takes a few grains, less than a pinch. The leech will turn into a pile of snot and dribble away. Trouble is, I rarely carry a salt shaker where it's readily accessable at the same time as I'm in leech water. The slow pull method will work, just do it easy and slow.Originally posted by Chris I"Now I see the secret of making the best person, it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth." -Walt WhitmanComment
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salt works, bu hte best way is to jsut grab the little guy and give it a yank. Some people try to burn them but this is the wrong thing to do because they will regurate everything they just ate from you, and who ever else they were attached to, into you! So not only will you be gettin your blood back, but a number of other types of blood and whatever parasites, bacteriat etc, that comes with it"It's not where your from, it's where your at."Comment
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QFTOriginally posted by AdRegion
I especially like the "gather all interested parties" part.
-perciousComment
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I can report the leeches in Taylor Pond are alive and well, and rather large. I am really not a fan of swimming with the leeches and I'm wondering if anyone knows of relatively leech free swimming areas in the Jay/Wilmington/Lake Placid area?Comment
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Leeches: Olive oil and salt really makes them unhappy little balls. However you probably dont have that in your PFD. They are delicious with garlic.
Most likely you DO have bug spray in your PFD. Give them a shot of it and watch leech seizures.Comment
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