The hiking opportunities in Atlanta are almost endless. You could check out the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area or the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve. If you’re in the mood for mountains, you could also get in the car and drive to our neighboring Chattanooga/North Georgia areas for some stunning hikes in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
The one thing most of these hikes have in common is water. Most trails in our area are near some body of water. Indeed, in humid areas with lots of rain like Atlanta, being far from moisture is hard to do even if you’re not hiking. That’s why you’ll have to take mosquito protection seriously (just like all pest control in Atlanta) both on and off the trail.
Common Areas That Attract A Lot Of Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and waterlogged soil. They also cannot stand direct sunlight. That means when you’re hiking, you’re most likely to run into them when you’re near bodies of stagnant water or in areas with lots of shade. Hiking near a river or lake, or deep woods is the perfect spot to run into these buzzing pests.
And don’t think the fact that a stream or river is moving fast means you’re safe. Mosquitoes cannot lay eggs in moving water, but plenty of muddy spots or stagnant pools on the banks of streams provide the perfect medium for eggs and larvae.
You’re More Vulnerable To Mosquitoes While Hiking
Mosquitoes may also be more attracted to you while you’re hiking. All the things they find attractive in you amplify when you’re experiencing high physical exertion. For example, mosquitoes love the smell of sweat, the heat from your body, and the carbon dioxide you exhale when breathing.
Of course, when you’re hiking a challenging trail, you’re going to be sweating more, emitting more heat, and breathing harder – meaning you smell even more delicious to mosquitoes than you usually would. That’s why you’ll need to take extra precautions to keep mosquitoes away when you’re on the trail.
Five Easy Ways To Protect Yourself From Mosquitoes While Hiking
The good news is there are lots of easy ways to repel mosquitoes so that they don’t ruin your hike. Effective methods include:
Wear scents mosquitoes hate, like eucalyptus, citronella, lavender, or cinnamon.
Use an EPA-approved bug spray containing DEET or picaridin.
Dress in light-colored clothing to make yourself less noticeable to mosquitoes.
Cover your skin with long sleeves and long pants.
Spray clothing and hiking gear with permethrin before hitting the trail.
The good news is these prevention methods don’t require a lot of effort to complete and can protect you from being bitten by disease-ridden mosquitoes for hours and even days on end.
Contact Tuxedo Mosquito Control For More Mosquito Control Advice
Of course, it would be pretty unfortunate to avoid mosquito-borne diseases on the hiking trail to wind up with one in your backyard. That means you also have to worry about protecting yourself from parasitic mosquitoes buzzing around for a meal on your property. The best way to do that is to avoid getting a breeding population of mosquitoes on your property. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done.
If you feel like your mosquito-prevention efforts are protecting you on the trail but not in your own home, call the experts here at Tuxedo Mosquito Control. We can help you get the mosquitoes on your property under control and ensure you don’t have to live with a yard full of potentially deadly buggers ever again! So contact us today to get started.