The Forestry Forum

There's already a tick topic but I had some questions regarding leeches.

Are there more than one type of leech? Human type not included.  :)

How many ways are used for removing them? We use salt most commonly as it is easy to use and produces quick results but have found Vaseline produces the most clean removal with no after effects at all.

What are good ways of trapping them? We found a few online, more wondering what you know works and what doesn't. We have a lake with lots of shoreline and thousands of leeches but no fish to eat them. Makes swimming a nuisance.

We think we have some fish fry coming along but they won't be mature for a few years yet and I'm wondering what we might be able to do in the mean time. Any ideas or suggestions?

That sounds bad, we have a small amount to deal with at times in our streams.  These are smaller than most I believe, maybe an inch long.  I might be tempted to contact a wildlife biologist from your area to see what if any measures that could be taken.   

Thought about selling them?

There was a thing on TV about leeches used for medical treatment, for serious limb surgery where veins (the return vessels) are severed. When that happens blood builds up in the affected limb, and goes bad. Apparently leeches are the No1 treatment for this problem as they suck the excess blood out of the affected area in a sterile manner, preventing clotting, necrosis and loosing the body part.  Blood can be replaced if the body part, graft, transplant survives.

Anyway  the show had some teenagers wading around in pond (in waders), trapping leeches, which they kept then in a tank for a few  weeks, then sent them off to various hospitals.

Don't know if these are the same guys, but get your leeches here.
http://leeches-nz.co.nz/ (http://leeches-nz.co.nz/)

Around here they are a very popular walleye bait.