Читать книгу Paddling Long Island and New York City - Kevin Stiegelmaier - Страница 28

While Long Island has no dangerous native insects, there are three that can cause a great deal of discomfort and annoyance: the mosquito, the greenhead fly, and the tick.

All three, unfortunately, are plentiful across Long Island and the New York City area, although mosquitoes and greenheads are predominantly found along the beaches and marshes of both the North and South shores. Both are incredibly aggressive biters and cause welts that burn and itch. They often occur in swarms that have been known to follow a person for long distances. These species are most active during spring and early summer months, although both pests can sometimes remain active well into the fall. Dozens of repellents exist; everyone has a personal favorite. The most common comprise a bug net that can be worn over the head and bug spray. Most people agree that sprays containing DEET work the best, although there is some evidence that the chemical can lead to certain health problems. Organic sprays sometimes work just as well as the others. Keep in mind that different repellents may work for different people, so try a few and find the one that works best for you.

Ticks, on the other hand, are tiny parasitic insects that live by feeding on the blood of other animals. Two distinct species—the wood (dog) tick and its smaller cousin, the deer tick—can be found on most parts of Long Island but are most prevalent inland near its center and farther east on both the North and South forks. While both kinds of ticks are a nuisance, the tiny deer tick is the one to be most wary of, as it has been found to carry and transmit Lyme disease. In general, deer ticks are much smaller than wood ticks—about the size of a freckle—and are uniformly dark in color, whereas wood ticks usually have white spots.

Though ticks pose little threat to paddlers on the water, they can easily catch a ride on your clothing or gear while you’re walking from your car to the shore, or while you portage or camp. The best way to prevent picking up these unwanted tagalongs is to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts in light colors, so the pests are easy to spot and remove. Bug repellent also keeps them away. Once off the water, thoroughly check your arms, legs, hair, and the rest of your body for any attached ticks. For ticks that are already embedded, removal with sharp tweezers is best: place them as close to skin as possible and gently rotate out, taking care not to squeeze the tick. Use disinfectant solution on the wound.

Although it takes a few hours for a tick to transmit a disease to a person it’s bitten, the site should be watched carefully for the next few days for any changes. Lyme disease often shows itself as a red, circular, bull’s-eye-shaped rash, but it may not produce any outward symptoms at all. When in doubt, see your doctor.