Throwdown Adventures

1. Know Your Pests: What’s Dangerous in Southern Ontario?

• Blacklegged (“deer”) ticks — can carry Lyme disease; early symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, joint pain, and an expanding red rash (often a “bull’s-eye”).
• Mosquitoes — while most bites are just itchy annoyances, some species can potentially spread West Nile virus; symptoms to monitor include flu-like signs after a bite.
• Horse flies — aggressive and painful biters; in rare cases can cause serious allergic reactions or transmit tularemia (a bacterial infection).

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2. Prevention Tips & Tricks

• Dress smart: Wear light-colored, tightly woven clothing, long sleeves, pants, socks—and tuck your pant legs into your socks to keep ticks at bay.
• Use repellents correctly:
  • Apply DEET (20–30%) to exposed skin. If using sunscreen, apply it first, let it dry, then apply repellent.
  • Pre-treat clothing with a bug spray with DEET prior to wearing
  • Use pet-safe repellent on your pets. Don’t forget – they can be bit too!
• Camp smart:
  • Avoid shady, moist areas and water edges where biting insects thrive.
  • Use citronella or bug nets, and enjoy your campfire—smoke helps keep bugs away (always check fire bans first).
• Home base prep: Remove standing water and keep vegetation trimmed to reduce mosquito breeding around your campsite or property.

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3. First Aid & Aftercare

• Ticks:
  • Perform daily “tick checks” after being outdoors—especially around armpits, groin, hairline, and behind knees.
  • To remove: use fine-tipped tweezers, grasp close to skin, pull upward steadily—don’t twist, then wash with soap and water.
  • Ensure any pets tagging along are up to date on their flea and tick medications.
• Bites or mild stings:
  • Clean the area, apply a cold compress to reduce swelling, and take antihistamines or use hydrocortisone/calamine to soothe itching.
• Severe reactions:
  • Watch for signs of anaphylaxis—difficulty breathing, swelling of lips/throat, dizziness. Seek emergency help immediately.
• Horse fly bites:
  • These bites are painful; treat them similarly—clean, cool, and monitor for infection or severe allergic reaction—tularemia is rare but treatable with antibiotics.

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4. Quick Summary

Bug Type	Risks	Prevention Tips
Deer Ticks	Lyme disease, rash	Clothing, permethrin, daily checks, prompt removal, pets up-to-date on their flea and tick medications
Mosquitoes	Itchiness, possible virus	Repellent, avoided zones, reduce standing water
Horse Flies	Painful, allergic reactions	Protective clothing, repellent, avoid breeding areas

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Stay safe and bite-free during your next adventure! Knowledge and preparation are your best defences.