TROTSAR Search & Rescue Mounted Team Inc.

05/09/2026

A beautiful day for a conditioning ride and trivia challenge.

05/04/2026

Excellent advice from our friends at Black Diamond Search And Rescue Council.

PSAR Tip of the Week: Ticks Are More Than a Nuisance

If you spend time in the woods—training, searching, or just enjoying the outdoors—ticks are a real and growing threat.

Here in Virginia—and across much of the Southeast—we’re seeing a sharp rise in Alpha-gal syndrome, Lyme disease, and other tick-borne illnesses.

📍 This isn’t theoretical—it’s local.
Areas like Bedford County and Charlotte County, Virginia are recognized as some of the hardest-hit hotspots in the nation for Alpha-gal.

⚠️ Know the Risks

* Alpha-gal: Allergic reaction to red meat and mammal products
* Lyme disease: Fatigue, joint pain, neurological complications
* Early symptoms are often mild—don’t ignore them

🧬 What’s Causing It?

* Alpha-gal is most strongly linked to bites from the Lone Star tick, which is widespread in Virginia
* Emerging research suggests chigger bites may also play a role in some cases, but this is still being studied

🛡️ Protect Yourself

* Treat clothing and gear with permethrin
* Use EPA-approved repellent
* Wear long sleeves, wear gaiters
* Conduct thorough tick checks after every task / mission
* Shower after field time

🚨 Bottom Line

Whether it’s ticks—or possibly chiggers—the risk is real.
A preventable bite can take you out of the field.

04/25/2026

TrotSAR team members participated in a mock search and rescue exercise for the UMBC Search Management Class today in MD.

03/27/2026

Last chance to register for the two day classes still available!

The 2026 Virginia Search and Rescue Conference will look a little different this year, and we’re excited to share what’s new. It will be on April 16-19 at the Holiday Lake 4H camp. Due to winter weather cancelling one of our Winter Academy weekends, we will be hosting the second weekend of the W...

03/26/2026

Our SAR colleague Dr. Sally Dickinson is in a contest for most-viewed YouTube video. She's an amazing dog handler, teacher and mentor in the Virginia SAR community. Please watch this video!

Dr. Sally Dickinson: “The dogs who find us: Preparing partners, not tools"What's your expertise? How well can you explain it to people outside of your field?...

03/12/2026

The 2026 Virginia Search and Rescue Conference will look a little different this year, and we’re excited to share what’s new. It will be on April 16-19 at the Holiday Lake 4H camp. Due to winter weather cancelling one of our Winter Academy weekends, we will be hosting the second weekend of the W...

03/10/2026

TrotSAR team members enjoyed a day of land navigation and search skills training this weekend. So happy for the nice weather!

02/10/2026

Congratulations Bryan, from all of our team!

Meet VDEM Special Ops Leader Bryan Saunders. Bryan's story was featured in the Virginia Retirement System February 2026 Newsletter. Please check it out at the link below!

www.varetire.org/member-news/2026/february/vdem-special-operations-leader-bryan-saunders-shares-importance-of-preparation.html

01/22/2026

Everyone be safe and prepared for the weather to come! ❄️

12/24/2025

12/02/2025

We hope you will support our team today on Giving Tuesday. ❤️ We are an all-volunteer mounted and ground Search and Rescue team responding to missing person searches in Virginia and Maryland and we need your support!

If you are interested in supporting TrotSAR Mounted Search and Rescue and you are unable to participate directly in our activities, consider making a financial contribution to TrotSAR.