Are there sheep ticks in Shetland or Orkney?

[lg18]

Hello,

(I also posted this on the agriculture/crofting section)

I am interested in where ticks exist (or not), i.e. their environmental limits, and have studied them up hills in the Cairngorms and how far north or inland they are in Norway.

 

But has anyone ever found a sheep tick anywhere in Shetland or Orkney, maybe on a sheep, pony, dog or yourself? And if so, whereabouts exactly? I know there are seabird ticks (Ixodes uriae) around the cliffs as I had one on me on Noss last summer, but I'm particularly interested in sheep ticks (Ixodes ricinus).

 

I have a feeling there might be ticks on Orkney, although I'm not sure where (if anyone knows, please let me know!), but I've never heard of any in Shetland - have you? (or any incidences of tick-borne disease in sheep such as louping ill virus or tick-borne fever)?

 

Any info would be brilliant,

thanks very much,

Lucy

Edited March 3, 2015 by lg18