Buzz Off: A Wildlife Volunteer's Guide to Repelling Mosquitoes
Volunteering at a wetlands wildlife refuge has its unique challenges and rewards. Amidst the vibrant ecosystem of diverse habitats including salt marshes and saltwater lakes, coastal prairies, freshwater lakes and marshes, intermittent streams, and riparian and bottomland forests the flora and fauna thrive unhampered by human interference, mosquitoes are thick.
In a protected environment their only enemy is nature and the creatures who depend on them as a food source. This reality challenged me to innovate personal strategies to combat the swarms.
This post explores a variety of methods I researched, tried-and-tested to keep us nearly bite-free while living and working among the little beasties. Some people attract more mosquitos than others, like me, so I was especially motivated in my defensive pursuits.
A Culinary Approach to Mosquito Repellence
One of the first lines of defense I discovered was integrating specific foods into my diet. Consuming large amounts of onions, garlic, peppers, apple cider vinegar, citrus fruits, legumes, tomatoes, rosemary, and thyme seemed to make a difference. It's possible that the strong scents and perhaps some chemical properties of these foods help mask human scents that attract mosquitoes. While I may have smelled like a walking farmer's market, it was a small price to pay for comfort and reduced itchiness.
Skin Care Regimens That Repel
Showering daily with Avon's Skin So Soft body wash (original scent) helped keep the mosquitoes a bit standoffish, too. Post-shower, I slathered on avocado oil mixed with lemon eucalyptus oil (about a 20:1 ratio). It served as a natural repellent, leveraging the mosquito-repelling properties of lemon eucalyptus. It’s seemed especially effective for the first several hours of the day but oohh wee pungent and stinky, mosquitos hung back and so did my husband, he was not a fan of this particular defense.
Protective Clothing and Gear
Understanding that physical barriers can be practical, we also equipped ourselves with "mosquito jackets" called the Bug Tamer Plus (a godsend) from Shannon Outdoors, made in the USA and patented. These hooded jackets have netted face coverings, breath well, and stay relatively cool, providing crucial double protection from mosquito. Bonus, their customer service is amazing and they are wonderful to work with.
Additionally, we treated our clothes with permethrin, a synthetic insecticide. Saturating our clothing and letting them dry before wear proved a helpful deterant too. I found baggy clothes favorable and made it harder for the bugs make contact with my skin.
Chemical Repellents: A Necessary Evil on Some Days
Despite my best efforts with natural and physical barriers, chemical repellents were sometimes necessary. Initially, I used DEET-based sprays, which were highly effective but not without drawbacks, such as the numbing sensation in my lips when applied to my face. Concerned about the potential adverse effects, I switched to repellents containing lemon eucalyptus, which provided an effective alternative without feeling like I’d just been to the dentist.
Adapting to the Environment
Armed with knowledge and the right tools, we found a way to explore, engage, work, play, and enjoy our surroundings more fully. It was an experience that taught me not only to research and try lots of remedies but also about the resilience needed to experience nature in unaltered environments. It certainly was a lesson in adaptation—how we protected ourselves and coexist with nature.
Relaxing Outdoors: Making the Most of Our Environment
We set up a screen tent for leisure times spent outdoors, such as mornings or evenings reading in my camp chair. Inside the enclosures, I burned bug repelling incense and operated a couple Thermacell devices to create a mosquito-free zone; this allowed us to enjoy the lush scenery, animals, birds, and vibrant sounds without the constant annoyance of mosquitoes.
The One(s) that Got Past my Blockade: Post Bite Care
In the thick of our adventure, even with all our prep, a few pesky mosquitoes still managed a nibble or two. Here’s a surprising trick I picked up for those inevitable bites: banana peels! I'd slice those peels into 1-inch pieces and pop them in the freezer. Not only did freezing help them last longer, but the chill was also a real relief on those swollen bites. Just rubbing the inside of a frozen banana skin on the bite eased the itch right away.
On days when the bites were relentless, I reached for Benadryl spray for those hard-to-reach spots on my back. A little bit of this concoction went a long way in keeping the itch at bay, letting us enjoy our nature-filled journey without too much scratchin’!
Visiting and camping in a mosquito-laden habitat for three and a half months taught us the importance of preparation and innovation in bug-deterring strategies. By integrating dietary changes, specialized clothing, natural skin care products, and natural and synthetic repellents, we could enjoy our time without the constant battle against mosquitoes. This comprehensive approach not only kept us comfortable but also respected the ecological role mosquitoes play.
Whether you're a fellow volunteer or a traveler venturing into mosquito-prone areas, these strategies can enhance your experience, allowing you to focus on the beauty of nature rather than its little irritants.
The tested techniques are transferable and we will employee them as we travel to other outdoor areas heavily impacted by mosquitoes. We are encouraged by our experience and repelling success to venture into nature's more untouched regions without fear.
What are your bug repelling strategies and secrets?
