8 Camping Pests To Watch Out For
From eating your food to drinking your blood, here's how to prevent camping pests from dampening your outdoor adventures.
Moustiques
No matter where you live, mosquitos are common outdoor companions. “Mosquitoes are one of the most annoying insects, and they’re especially bad when you’re camping,” says Nicholas Kilby of Think Wild.
Start by choosing your campsite wisely. Avoid areas with standing or stagnant water like ponds, puddles and marshes. Also, seek places prone to breezes, which can prevent mosquitoes from swarming.
To further keep them at bay, you’ll likely need a combination of the following:
- Clothing: Wear loose clothing to cover up exposed skin. A recent study also suggests clothing color can make a difference. Green, purple, blue and white seem to deter mosquitoes, while red, orange, black and cyan attract them. Other studies have shown that stinky items like unwashed socks attract them as well.
- Chemical repellents: DEET and permethrin are usually effective but can cause allergic reactions and harm the environment, so try to use them in moderation. “DEET can corrode valuable camping equipment and prolonged exposure to high concentrations of permethrin has been linked to different types of cancer,” says Kilby.
- Natural repellents: Scents like citronella and eucalyptus can help keep mosquitoes away without harsh chemicals. “However, these methods don’t usually work when the mosquitoes are really bad,” says Kilby.
- Bug-repellant clothes: Some clothing lines are made from or treated with insect repellants. “Exofficio is one of my favorite bug-repellent clothing brands,” Kilby says, “and Sawyer makes great bug repellant for your skin and clothing that will not damage your gear.”
- Smoke: Smoke from a small fire can bring some relief. But never leave a fire untended, and extinguish it properly to prevent wildfires.
Once you’re bitten, resist the urge to scratch. Scratching increases your histamine response, which makes the bite itch more. And once the skin is broken, you risk infection. An anti-itch cream can help.
October 24, 2024
Karuna Eberl
Rédactrice indépendante et productrice de films indépendants, Karuna Eberl couvre l'aspect extérieur et naturel du bricolage, explorant la faune et la flore, la vie verte, les voyages et le jardinage pour Family Handyman. Elle rédige également la rubrique Eleven Percent de FH, qui traite des femmes dynamiques dans le secteur de la construction. Elle a également fait la couverture du Readers Digest de mars, de National Parks, de National Geographic Channel et d'Atlas Obscura. Karuna et son mari sont également sur la dernière ligne droite pour rénover une maison abandonnée dans une ville presque fantôme du Colorado rural. Lorsqu'ils ne travaillent pas, vous pouvez les trouver en train de faire des randonnées et de parcourir les routes secondaires, en campant dans leur van auto-converti.
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Mentions dans les médias
Whether for gardening, mowing or warm evenings outside, we found Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent to be an excellent choice in every setting.
Mentions dans les médias
The efficacy of DEET without harsh chemicals. Sawyer Picardin Insect Repellent is our go-to skin protection against mosquitos and ticks. We prefer the lotion to the spray-on, which lasts 8-14 hours.
Mentions dans les médias
We recommend this lotion from Sawyer for its effectiveness, thorough application, and easily transportable bottle.
De la part de l'équipe
Des conversations autour d'un feu de camp avec notre communauté, des membres de l'équipe et des ambassadeurs aux partenaires de la marque et à l'équipe Sawyer.
