It’s Bug Season Again - Are You Prepared?

Here we go again. Another season of pesky bugs. But, spring and summer are great times to be out enjoying the woods and waters of the state. As I write this, the spring turkey season is providing hunters with great opportunities to bag a gobbler. Anglers are out after trout, salmon, bass and other fish species. The warmer weather is also providing wildlife watchers, hikers and campers with opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. However, you’re not alone out there. The black flies, mosquitoes and ticks are out in numbers too, just awaiting the opportunity to bite you.It surprises me no end to see the numbers of anglers, hikers and others I run across in the outdoors, who are so improperly dressed and unprotected from the buggy infestations out there. They wear shorts, short sleeved shirts or jerseys, no socks or hats and some wear no shirt at all (bear chested). They literally open themselves up as a meal for pesky mosquitoes, black flies and ticks. This is neither a good nor a desirable situation. One fellow I met fishing was swatting mosquitoes constantly. I asked him why he didn’t have on protective clothing. “Oh, I have bug repellent on,” he informed me. Well, it wasn’t doing that good apparently! Let’s look at the possible dangers.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) is a rare but serious viral disease that is carried by some kinds of mosquitoes. In New Hampshire, there were several human cases of EEE reported over the past 25 years. Anyone can catch EEE, but some people are at increased risk, such as those living in or visiting areas where the disease is common, people who work outside or participate in outdoor recreational activities like hunting, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking or wildlife watching. Children and those over age 55 are more susceptible to the disease. The risk of EEE is highest from late July through September. But, why take a chance?

Another mosquito disease is the West Nile Virus. This was first seen in the U.S. in 1999, in the Queens area of New York. Like EEE, West Nile Virus is passed bird to bird by certain types of mosquitoes. Occasionally, an infected mosquito will pass the virus to humans or animals. Incidentally, crows are the biggest carriers of the West Nile Virus and our crow populations are
way out of hand these days.

Here’s a good way to help protect yourself from mosquitoes. When outside, especially during the evening, nighttime and dawn hours, when mosquitoes are most active and likely to bite you, wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shits and socks. Consider using an effective insect repellent, such as one containing 30% or less of DEET for children and adults. Also very effective is the use of a Bug Baffler bug protection netted jacket and/or pants. This item comes with an attached hood that also covers your head and face. The good part about it is that you won’t have to wear any bug repellent or DEET. Bug Baffler is a local New Hampshire company that specializes in insect protective clothing and is located here in Goffstown. Look them up on their webpage at: www.bugbafller.com or contact Phyllis Biron, President, by calling (603)774-7391.

Last of all, we come to Lyme disease. Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacterium in humans and animals that causes Lyme disease. In most cases, the bacteria is transmitted by the bite of an infected black leg tick (a.k.a. deer tick). If a tick feeds on an animal infected with Lyme disease and then on a person, the bacteria can be transmitted. Lyme disease was first detected in humans in 1977 in Lyme, Connecticut, where it infected a c luster of children. Ticks transmit the bacteria by inserting their mouths into the skin of a host and drawing blood.
Who is at risk for Lyme disease? Any person who spends any time in wooded or grassy areas or where ticks may be present is at risk for the disease. Lyme disease is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person. However, when in wooded or grassy areas, you should do the following:1. Wear light-colored clothing to make the ticks easy to see. Keep in mind that deer ticks are small, the size of the head of a pin. I wear kaki pants and shirts.2. Tuck pants into socks and long-sleeved shirt into pants. 3. Consider using an insect repellent.4. After every two or three hours of outdoors activity, check for ticks on clothing and skin.5. Complete a thorough check of your whole body for attached ticks at the end of the day.

Remember to dress properly and enjoy your experience on the water or anywhere outdoors by being bug free. Incidentally, do you know what the most dangerous ticks in the world are?  POLITICS!

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

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DISCLAIMER:  The opinions expressed by Mr. Harris are not necessarily those of the Goffstown Residents Association or its members

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