Summer brings many joys and beauties, things we’ve been longing for in the chilly days and nights leading up to it. Once nice weather sets in, more people are out and about… and that makes buggy pests pretty happy. But now there is more fear surrounding them. It seems that every time you turn on the news, there is another disease that can be transmitted to us by the familiar insects we encounter all the time – ticks and mosquitoes primarily. As long you know what measures to take, their existence doesn’t have to deter you from enjoying some time with Mother Nature.

Mosquitoes

Probably the world’s biggest transmitter of infectious diseases, mosquitoes can do more than just irritate your skin. Mosquitoes carry malaria and West Nile virus, among other things.

Now the world’s attention has shifted to the prevalence and spread of the Zika virus. We are only beginning to learn about what the disease does to humans. Will it reach Michigan? It’s possible, but only time will tell.

Knowing the potential effects of the virus makes you want to stay inside and lock all the windows. Yet mosquitoes are a part of life, a pest that won’t be going away. So how do we best manage them?

  1. Wear bug repellant, preferably with DEET. Spray it on before going outside, even to just outside the camper. You’ll especially need it on hikes. Kids can wear bracelets with mosquito-fighting power, otherwise, just spray their clothes and avoid their hands and faces. There are mosquito repelling blankets that can be brought along on picnics and to the beach that might be worth looking into. If you want a repellent that is more natural, use pure peppermint oil. Dab it directly onto the skin or on anything where you’ll need protection from these flying pests.
  2. Cover up. On hotter days, this might seem unrealistic; however, less skin equals a smaller landing strip. Loose fitting clothes are preferred over tight clothing as mosquitoes can still penetrate tight fabric and get to you anyway. This is particularly advised during the evening hours.
  3. Keep the window screens. Open the windows and enjoy the breeze, but be wary of removing (or unzipping) the screens or keeping the door open too long. A mosquito could feast all night if permitted inside. When dining outdoors, consider using a screened-in tent to keep mosquitoes, flies, horseflies, and bees at bay.

Ticks

These blood sucking pests are common in Michigan, with their range expanding over more of the state in recent years. There are different kinds of ticks, but the deer tick – the smallest – is the one to worry about when it comes to contracting Lyme disease.

If you’re in an RV campground, park, or resort with paved or well landscaped (mulch around the sites), then there is not a high risk of ticks finding you there. But if you’re in a more remote camping site, or out in the woods on a hike with the family, be on the lookout. Here are a few things you can do to help avoid being bitten by ticks:

  1. Wear long pants and tuck them into your socks to avoid any ticks around the ankles.
  2. Walk in the center of trails to avoid contact.
  3. Wear insect repellent with DEET. According to the CDC, repellants containing 20% or more DEET can protect you up to several hours.
  4. Once you come inside, check your clothing for ticks and take a shower, making sure to check your entire body for possible lurkers – especially behind knees, inside elbows, behind ears, and in your hair. Ticks don’t latch right away so it’s important to do this step.
  5. If you find a tick, grasp it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull it straight out. Watch for signs of illness in the days and weeks to follow. If you see a bull’s-eye rash appear, have it checked by a physician. He/she will need to prescribe antibiotics if you test positively for Lyme.

Though it is good to be aware and take the necessary precautions, don’t let the existence of pests ruin your nature time. Enjoy the great outdoors!