Wasps & Bees:

        Wasps can include yellow jackets and hornets. Bees are, pretty much, just bees. Of all the wildlife threats, to me, the threat of getting stung is the most likely and has the highest potential for becoming a dangerous for the average person.

      A single sting from either a wasp or bee can be dangerous to those who are allergic and have a high risk to anaphylactic shock.  An entire swarm attack can be outright deadly to some folks - allergic or not. Obviously, getting stung is painful and unpleasant for anybody.

     There is a difference between getting a bad reaction to stings, being allergic and being prone to anaphylactic shock.  That is THREE different things altogether.  Discuss this with your doctor and have him explain your risk factor.  Ask for an EpiPen prescription.  In some cases, you may be authorized to carry one if you are trained and responsible for others when involved in leading outdoor activities.

    Hornets tend to build a gray, paper-like nest in trees or shrubs and are easy to spot if alert.  Yellow jackets are more likely to be overlooked because their nests are usually underground.  Personally, I've talked with more folks having bad experiences with yellow jacket nests than any other type of bee or wasp.

    Please contact me if you have some good photos of a yellow jacket nest and are willing to let me post them here.  The shots I have won't help people identify a nest very well.  For now, be alert of yellow jackets if you see fresh dirt on the ground that seems evenly spread out.  You may, or may not, see the brownish paper nest at the entrance to the hive.  When in doubt, avoid disturbing the nearby ground.   

                                           Ticks and Mosquitoes:

   Diseases like Lyme and West Nile virus are serious threats yet can easily be avoided.  Most folks who are infected by ticks or mosquitoes did not have adequate protection.  The two best ways to be fully protected is to use a combination of Deet and Permitherine (Permanone). There is a slim chance of getting bit using protection.

    Good News!  You should be safe from Lyme disease by simply checking for ticks every 12 hours.  "Experts" say that a deer tick has to be attached to you for 36 hours to transfer Lyme disease.  I know what you're thinking.  That's what they say anyway.

    Deet is for application to the skin. It is only a repellent. It will not perform best on clothing.  It is very effective when used with Permitherine on clothing.  People worry about chemicals.  I feel Lyme disease is a bigger threat.

     Permitherine is also called Permanone. This repels AND kills. It works only on clothing and not on skin.  Permitherine is long-lasting when clothing and shoes are properly treated. I've read that you can wash articles dozens of times before the chemical starts to loose potency. Some outdoor gear manufacturers use Permitherine embedded in their materials.  I would still get a can of Permanone and occasionally treat everything myself.  It's cheap health insurance. 

                                          Venomous snakes:

   Good news!  Poisonous snake bites are rare in America.  A majority of those bitten were handling or teasing them.  If you don't willfully mess with them your chances plummet.

   More good news!  Half of all bites are "dry bites". Your chances of serious injury dropped even more!  Vipers don't just crawl around with venom in their fangs.  They actually make the decision to "load their guns" when they see something they want to eat.  You are too big and scary to be viewed as a meal. (Obviously, there's the chance they may be ogling a bite-size meal as you come along.)  

   Even MORE good news! If they do happen to have venom in their fangs, the "dosage" varies by many factors. This means even more reduced threat.

        In summary; if you are cautious of where you are about to step (or reach) into, step onto or step next to and you have decent footwear - your odds of a serious "random" bite are MINUSCULE. When crossing a log or rock, step on top first and peek over the edge before stepping down the other side.  Many of us don't like snakes, but the fear is mostly in our heads.

Spiders:

     The two most poisonous spiders that naturally reside in North America are the Black Widow and Brown Recluse.

          There are around 30,000 other kinds of spiders that are not a problem to us. Learn the facts about The Black Widow and the Brown Recluse from this link. Most of the time spiders are misidentified by the average person.  Finding the dangerous kind is hard even if you try.

          Good news!  They only bite when disturbed. They like to "stay put" in undisturbed, dark places and will not hunt you down while you are sleeping in a tent. They don't like bug repellent either. As with snakes; watch where you put your hands and don't mess with them if you see one.

 

 Lions and tigers and bears... oh my!

    Soon I will have a few tips on avoiding confrontation and what to do when the big ones want to dance! See the Video Blog for a fun video about bears. 

   Basically -- don't surprise any large animal; let them know you are nearby and that you are human.  Most animals don't want to meet a human.  Loud noises can startle and scare an animal that is getting too close.  Never run like prey.  Big animals will think twice if you "seem" larger and meaner and they have a way to escape.
   
   When it looks as if the animal intends to come toward you -- glance around for items that can be used as clubs, spears, rocks etc.  Never hurt an animal just because it scares you. However, always fight back with extreme prejudice if it attacks.  

 Rabies:

     Many animals can carry rabies.  Some species are more likely to be infected due to individual physiology, habitat or natural behavior.  We will discuss what to look for in those crazy little beasts when the edits are done.  For now it is possible to ward-off rabies by immediately cleaning and disinfecting some bites (sometimes). So flush, wash and disinfect ASAP if bitten by anything. As with snakes and spiders: Always watch where you put your hands and never reach into dark places.