How to Remove a Japanese Mountain Leech

[CocoEspada]

"I'm here with my family." *pans to no one* lol I thought that was funny.

[Crazygmodman360]

Since you live in japan. is there really a himuro mansion up there? just curious

[ebenbaker1]

could just burn the fucker.

[Gumbo550]

do it solid snake style, burn them off with a cigar

[DOMOfreak1232]

haha i like ur vids Kurt...i wish that kinda stuff happend in my boring life...i live in Utah and the only weird incect ive seen was a blue and red bee and it was on the ground and i steped by it i think, and it started schreeching and i saw it, so i ran away cuz it scared the shit outa me and it chased me for just a second. i had no idea what it was, and ive never seen anything like it.

[bananian]

Omg, Surviorman in Japan

[themegavirus]

i had a dream that i was about to blow a dandilion but it unfolded and jumped for my face ehhuhuuhuhu

[kyukenonythegreatest]

MANTRA "OM MANI PADME HUM"

gkocc

[lifesnova]

I woke up with a leech on me, screaming, i pulled it off and squeezed it in my hands and there was so much fucking blood.

holy fuck.

[libertyphoenix777]

I had a nightmare last night about leeches that bore into your skin and you have to pull them out of your skin 1 by 1, and the only way to kill them is acid, THANK GOD IT WAS ONLY A DREAM!

[snowwolfsabertooth]

but what if you get one of those huge ones on you like in your other video?

[ilovemybooth]

I don't understand how you're so calm about this. Had this of been on me I would have been a screaming banshee :/

[glassesfreak]

Can you feel that leech or did you happen to spot it? Is this safe to do if the leech has already started to draw blood?

I know you can wait for the leech to fill up and naturally fall off, but for obvious reasons people would rather not wait.

[Mizlymiz]

Dose it work on any leech?

[Zebus112]

I would freak out if that would be on my feet :D

[moldyapple1]

wtf thats michael cera in the near future!

[shinerunner65]

It's actually kinda cute.

[SenioritaWolfiee]

My Mom is South African, and she told me that when she was a kid she and her brothers would get bitten by leeches all the time. She said that to get them off, her father would light a match, blow it out, and then touch the tip to the leech, and it would fall off.

[TheLAKERSareGodsTeam]

You have to be a complete retard to be hiking where there are leeches.

[soulcheese209]

but will it blend?

[spikmarne]

i brought some leechs to my school and nearly got suspended i don't know why but i was really going to give it to my bio teacher until the principle caught took me a while to explain haha

[TheSilverhedge2010]

STOMP IT STOMP IT!!!

[kingjacob300]

*bites finger next* ouch, dammit!

[1658031]

god that could be dangerous if it was inside our ears of course it'll find the way up to the brain lol

[switch111able]

ohh so leech can walk ..CAN IT RUN?

[AsianRunescape]

finger? why do you think they have samurai's in japan to have war? No wrong to chop leeches DERP

[washington4478]

your one of a kind person

[Jh112196]

Oh my god lol that one conversation up top was great XD

[emotion333]

0:04 "Hi!!!!"

[john17972]

Just let the leech drink until it's full.

[12trubbs]

I learnd to burn them off. I had one on my arm and I tied my arm off with my belt and it was still attached. I figured I'd have some fun with it before it dies. I then let the belt lose( i had it on for like half an hour) and all the blood poured in to my arm and the leech got more then it could handle, swelled with my blood and.........it popped. lol

[BeardedLazerGuy]

I bet he squished that leech when the cameras weren't rolling

[TheRealFobican]

Hey you look like Bear Grylls ftw lol.

[TheManWithAplanX]

just burn it ._.

[NIghtRider805]

thats gross ewww

[ChainKiller187]

noob, next time take a fire lighter... and lighten it up.. way easier and less painfull for you... not for the leech ofc

[Yomalex3]

@ChainKiller187 So burning your skin off would be less painful than just removing it with your fingernail? You realize leeched have enzymes in their saliva that anestetize your skin? It's why you don't even realize the leech is there untill you see it or feel it move, but the bite perse does not hurt. And yes, putting fire close enough to your skin for the amount of time it would take to burn the leech off would hurt more.

[surferworm]

do they hurt? when geetting em off like that

[ninijacob]

i get em off with a hot knife

[d3vak]

pretty cool!

good info

[itruztno1]

Is it ok to just flick it, not off, i mean like flick on top of it and crush it?

[softypapa]

@itruztno1 Once the leech is firmly attached they stick pretty good and may be difficult to flick off. This should work fine though while they are still crawling and before they latch on. ~Kurt :-)

[itruztno1]

@softypapa Ok but what i mean is for example, if the leech is on the palm side of my hand biteing me, could i just clap my hands together really hard and crush it to death, or can that do something bad to me?

[softypapa]

@itruztno1 Though I am not certain, I suspect that what you suggest may not be a good idea. Keep in mind that the leech has an open mouth into your bloodstream and if you damage the animal it may regurgitate its stomach contents into your blood. This could cause unknown parasites from the leech to enter your body which may or may not have harmful effects. ~Kurt :-)

[itruztno1]

@softypapa Ok that makes sense, but what if im trapped in the jungle and ive somehow had an accident and lost both of my arms and i notice a leech on my chest and theres a fire near by, could i get as close as i could to the fire and try to burn it off my chest? Ive heard that urine works too, not sure if thats correct but if it was could i lie on my back with a stiffy and try to piss on it? i think i read that its something to do with the salt in the urine...too bad if it was on my face...

[softypapa]

@itruztno1 :-) I don't think you can pee with a stiffy? ~Kurt :-)

[itruztno1]

@softypapa K thats a good point,

[Hellion6325]

@softypapa That was the most entertaining conversation about leeches I have ever seen in my life

[arescraft]

EWww Japan is like weird......

[TehShlubz]

@softypapa You can X3

[SteamMrOwned]

@softypapa You can pee with a stiffy, but it will go flacid in the process. Don't ask...

[TheLydianRocks]

@itruztno1 Are you mad??? can i buy some pot?

[Benjy906]

@itruztno1 dude if you're in the jungle without any arms i don't think a leech is your biggest worry

[wolfrox777]

I never knew a leech was simple to remove, I thought they were very difficult to remove.

[zxcvbnmjfjf]

leaches are like ninjas, i would walking through this like 2 inch deep swamp type area and there was a leach on my nee like how do they get the i mean i can feel mosquitos moving on me so there crazy,

[microwave000]

uuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhh­hh. i have a phobia of leeches :/

[pokemon9513]

0:04 is that a little girl?

[softypapa]

@pokemon9513 Yup! That's my kid! Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)

[pacccv]

what if u dont have nails?

[gfBoBgf]

Use salt / Gasoline...

Removeing it like that makes it aware and it will start pumping some of its OWN blood into yours...

[devildawg70]

Great videos...my kids love your work!

[kyrilidis7]

man thansk for the great vid about hijibg ib bature abd the huge problem of leeches.i have a question...what problems can be if u drink water and can contain leech and how u can see if in the natural sorgent water could be presence of leech?any bad consequences and countermisures?thank you:)great vids again:)

[brhodewalt]

Any reason you don't wear (full-length) hiking socks when you hike? That would prevent a lot of this.

[softypapa]

@brhodewalt Great question! I guess it's just so many years of habit that keeps me in shorts and white socks. I hope to be buried in them! Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)

[ferisqueer]

burn it 4 like a second itll fal off 

[mattybooy123]

ahh te japs are coming

[iwillbd1234]

Are you married to a Japanese woman ?

[softypapa]

@iwillbd1234 Yes, I am. Happily together now for nearly 20 years (am I really getting that old :-). Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)

[TeHGoodReverend]

@softypapa Do you speak Japanese?

[softypapa]

@TeHGoodReverend Just enough to make everyone laugh. Seriously, my Japanese is very poor. ~Kurt :-)

[italia1463]

no problem. :)

[italia1463]

nope if you have a leech on you do not for the love of GOD use salt,soap, or burn it off. one of my cusins bak it italy is a doctor and if you use that method then the leech will regurgitate into the wound and it can make the bitten area seriously infected. especially if its carrying a disease..which i might add many do.

[softypapa]

@italia1463 This is excellent advice. Thank you for sharing the benefit of your experience. It helps to know that this advice is backed up by your cousin who is a doctor. Thank you for watching and commenting! -Kurt :-)

[Diyana81]

tobacco also can remove leech without hurting them....

[softypapa]

@Diyana81 Thank you for sharing this

tip. This is a new one I had never heard

before. Thanks again! -Kurt :-)

[AussieWithBlueEyes]

@Diyana81 lol i thought i said taco bell can remove em

[NeroXIII]

Cool good to know.

[Blackhorserider77]

hey thanks! I know another way too. As it turns out, you can use salt to remove leaches as well. But thanks for the tip!

[softypapa]

Hello Blackhorserider77, Thank you for watching and commenting. I've been warned by others that using salt, heat and other such methods can cause problems as the trauma may cause the leech to regurgitate their stomach contents into the wound before disengaging. I have no confirmation that this is true though this is something I was cautioned about.

[ROCKLOCK997]

thx :D

[Ubergood]

i would have used a chainsaw to remove that leech :)

[j0beth]

when the leech bits on you bite back so your kwits equal ehehe

[HorseRider1123]

your a very nice father and wow does it hurt gettin' bitten by a leech

[softypapa]

Hello HorseRider1123, Thank you for your nice words. Actually, being bitten by the leeches in this area does not hurt at all. I believe that this is due tot he fact that the leeches release a chemical which deadens sensation so that the host will not notice the presence of the leech. -Kurt :-)

[silentopinion]

I wish you could tell that to these kids I was in class with. They say you can feel a leech bite you.

[yummeeceline]

great information! i hope i dont get a leech though. does it hurt to remove it?

[niknak1830]

i found a leech on my bathroom lol. which led me here on youtube :P i put it on my arm..i wanna try it but i dunno how to get it off..lol so i just wait for it to let go on its own..but now i know how to XD thx mate

[softypapa]

Hello niknak1830, I'm happy to hear that this video might be helpful to you. -Kurt :-)

[areallylongassname2]

I went swimming in a river and got 6 of them bigass worms on me, i brn them off and got an infection:(

[softypapa]

Hello areallylongassnabe2, Thank you for posting about your experience. I'm very sorry that your bites became infected. We were out at a river yesterday and my daughter got one on her leg. She went into a panic and beat it off before I could help her. I hope it will not become infected. Thanks again for sharing with us. -Kurt :-)

[Danerd9]

i'd just falcon punch those worms if you ask me. :P

[ModPCLM]

@Danerd9 LOL

[xXcam0manXx]

@Danerd9 LMAO!!! i would falcon kick that leech to the dome

[tbsdrummer87]

I don't mind leeches, they're kind of gangster worms if you ask me. Anyways, here in Maine leeches are abundant in grassy areas of the water and marshes/swamps. The best way to remove them is with salt on a flat surface or burning them off, that is if your body is far from the flame, but close enough to burn the leech. You could pull them off too, but they're good sizes (2"-5")

[fulcher33]

K, you come across some odd creatures on your little outings.

[splitza]

i am so freaked out by leeches ahhhh. u're very brave

[englishwob]

In Canada, the leeches are about ten times that size. Here it is recommended that you slowly bring a tight length of fishing line between the leech and you.

[softypapa]

Hello englishwob, Thank you for adding this helpful information. -Kurt :-)

[cpury]

haha thanks, hopefully I won't encounter some on my bike trip, but if I do, I know what to do :)

[softypapa]

Hello cpury, I hope that you do not have any leech encounters (at least none where they get on you) during you bicycle ride. Have a great time and remember to drink lots of fluids (it's soooo hot now!). -Kurt :-)

[lovemac95]

very intresting! a ha you llern something everyday ( :

[hapsap]

I thought leeches can, when removed, leave their beak in you skin. Causing infections in the long run. But it seems this was just a myth.

[Demoniacuz]

They look so freaking strange but are also that fascinating.

Thanks a lot for explaining as I fear to become a victim of those while climbing the southern Japanese Alps in the close future.

[softypapa]

Hello Domoniacuz, I hope that you enjoy your climbing in the Japan Southern Alps. If you are in the Shizuoka area and ever wish to have a climbing partner then please let me know. I would love to go and explore together! -Kurt :-)

[Luminasita]

*giggles* Not my most favorite video of yours, though it is good information. Also, someone seems to have a good grasp of how to work your camera- watch out, Dad! ;)

~Kat

[softypapa]

Hello Kat, I'm really delighted that Emily seems to enjoy using the still and video cameras. It's great fun to sit at the computer together our little shoots and talk about the images. It's also amazing to see what wonderful images and perspectives can be found from a child's eye-view of the world. -Kurt :-)

[BusanKevin]

Nasty! I've never been lunch for a leech....at least not yet! I'm not sure if there are many in this part of Japan. You've hiked Mt.Rokko before....andy leeches around there?

[softypapa]

Hello BusanKevin, I have not yet hiked Mt. Rokko and am not aware of the leech situation there. However, I'd recommend caution whenever you walk through any wet spots during the warm months in central Japan as there may indeed be leeches on the prowl. -Kurt :-)

[6663000]

I thought it was going to be one of those massive leeches like in some of your other videos.

Glad to see that is was not :P

[amydien09]

*shivers at the sight of the leech*

Very informative video. Im hoping this will come in handy when I come across a leech someday. Thanks! =)

[myargonauts]

nice vid - good info. I would have been much more girly if I found a leech on my leg. :P

[6663000]

Me too, haha