Difference between revisions of "Kill Leeches"

#Try to detach the leech’s suckers. Locate the leech’s oral sucker on the anterior (thinner end). Place your finger or fingernail on the skin next to this, and gently slide it underneath. Push to the side to detach the leech.<ref name="rf1">http://www.purpleturtle.co.uk/acatalog/How_to_Remove_a_Leech.html</ref> Repeat this step at the posterior end sucker, then flick the leech off of your body.

#*Make sure to start with the thinner, anterior end, which is actually the leech’s “head.”<ref name="rf2"> http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/siddall-leeches.html</ref>

#Wait for the leech to fall off. Once the leech has had enough blood, it should fall off on its own, typically after about twenty minutes.<ref name="rf3">http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Leech</ref> If you cannot remove the leech safely, you may have to leave it and wait until it stops feeding. While this can be unsettling, the leech should not cause you any pain or serious injury.

#Stop any bleeding. Leeches have anticoagulant enzymes that cause blood to flow freely.<ref name="rf3" /> If the bite area continues to bleed after you remove the leech (or after it falls off), apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze until the bleeding stops.

#Clean the wound to prevent infection. Leeches can leave a small wound where they were attached to your body.<ref name="rf4">http://senr.osu.edu/sites/senr/files/imce/files/extension_outreach/ponds_fish_aq_mgmt/OhioPondNews/OPN_WI11vol10iss1.pdf</ref> Clean this wound using warm water and a mild soap. Afterwards, apply an over-the-counter antibacterial cream and bandage. In the event that the wound becomes infected, see a doctor.

#Do not try to simply rip the leech off. Leeches are very flexible and difficult to grasp, and even if you are successful at grabbing one and pulling it off your body, this may make things worse. In ripping it away, parts of the leech’s jaws may remain in your body, which can cause an infection.<ref name="rf1" />

#Do not try to burn or poison the leech to cause it to detach. Many traditional remedies for removing leeches involve putting a match or flame to the leech’s body, or pouring salt, alcohol, vinegar, or other things on the leech. While this will likely cause the leech to detach itself from your body, it may regurgitate the contents of its stomach back into the bite wound as it detaches. This can cause an infection.<ref name="rf1" /><ref name="rf2" />

#See a doctor if necessary. If leeches are attached to sensitive areas, such as on your eye, or in an orifice such as your nasal cavity, vagina, or penis, you should see a doctor for professional help. Doctors are trained in the use of special techniques and equipment to remove leeches, and will be able to treat any infections or complications that arise.<ref name="rf5">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25957708</ref>

#Set a trap. Take a metal can with a reclosable lid, such as a large coffee can, and punch small holes in this lid.<ref name="rf6">http://www.maine.gov/dep/water/lakes/leech.html</ref> Put raw meat inside the can, close the lid, and tie a string around the can. Place this in shallow parts of water where you suspect leeches live, and they will be attracted to and enter the can. You can then pull the can out of the water and dispose of the leeches.

#*Leeches are most active during warm months. Lay your trap, check it daily during warm periods, and dispose of any caught leeches. Repeat this until few or no leeches appear in the trap.<ref name="rf4" />

#Attract ducks to the leech-infested area.<ref name="rf6" /> Ducks may feed on leeches, which can help to keep their populations low. If you attract ducks using duck feed, however, this can increase levels of phosphorus in water and contribute to algae growth. Species of duck known to consume leeches include:

#*Ring-necked duck (Aythya collars)<ref name="rf7">http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-necked_Duck/lifehistory</ref>

#*Wood duck (Aix sponsa)<ref name="rf8">http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wood_duck.htm</ref>

#Maintain populations of bluegill and largemouth bass fish. These fish are natural predators of leeches and will help to control their population.<ref name="rf4" /> This method will only work for enclosed, private waters like ponds.

#Control aquatic vegetation and debris. An overabundance of vegetation and organic debris in ponds and lakes is thought to contribute to the growth of leech populations. If possible, keep vegetation to about ten percent of a pond’s surface area.<ref name="rf4" /> Remove or control any excess vegetation to help combat leech infestation. Methods include:<ref name="rf9">https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-251/420-251.html</ref>

#Use chemical control methods. Copper sulfate pentahydrate is used to control leech populations. The recommended dose is 5 ppm.<ref name="rf4" /> This approach, however, will kill everything in the water, including fish and other creatures. Thus, this method should be used only in enclosed, fish-less waters.

</ref><ref name="rf10">http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9923597</ref>  

*There are between 700 and 1000 species of leeches worldwide.<ref name="rf11">http://www.nps.gov/moca/learn/nature/upload/Montezuma_Well_Leeches.pdf</ref> Most live in water, though some live on land.

*Leeches, though they can cause discomfort, are not known to pass diseases to humans.<ref name="rf4" /> In fact, they were traditionally used medicinally. Occasionally, leeches and leech byproducts are still used medicinally.<ref name="rf12">http://web.uconn.edu/mcbstaff/graf/Host.html</ref>