vermontliving

When visiting Vermont, people fail to think of two important items. Thankfully, you can purchase both in many area stores for under $10, so if you forget them, you’ll only be minorly inconvenienced while you head to the local Walmart, Kmart or one of the area pharmacies (Kinney, RiteAid, etc.)

Mosquitoes, ticks and black-flies are incredible nuisances in the spring, summer and even fall months. Black fly season begins usually in April as soon as there have been a few warm days in a row. The problem with black-flies is that they don’t just attack in groups of three or four, you’ll end up with fifty of them all swarming your head at the same time. They head for ears and eyes. They’ll get tangled in your hair or try to go up your nose. Some areas have them worse than others, and along Lake Champlain they are horrible. Thankfully they tend to cycle in a span of about four weeks and then you rarely see them again.

Mosquitoes are equally annoying along the lakes, near swamps or ponds and near rivers. They are not out during the day, but as the sun sinks, they come out in swarms looking for a meal. Mosquitoes in this area (I’m in Franklin County about twenty miles from Burlington) have tested positive for West Nile Virus so it is important to protect yourself against them.

Ticks, both deer (Lyme Disease) and dog, are in the wooded areas and also in areas with fields. My cat’s come home with them even with a tick collar, so I know they are around. Removing a tick is a task that is not enjoyable!

What I’ve found is that DEET products, especially Off, are not always effective. I’ve been testing numerous products for years and have only found one that seems to repeal all three insects. Ben’s Insect Repellent in the orange bottle works well. If you are against DEET, as many are, I’ve yet to find any product that is extremely effective. Off Mosquito lanterns do offer protection providing you stay within a few feet of the lantern, but it doesn’t work against ticks or black-flies.

Sunscreen is a must at all times of the year. You might enjoy the feel of the sun in cold winter months, but sunburn is still possible. I’ve found one sunscreen that out performs others. I have pale, sensitive skin, so finding a sunscreen that offers decent protection and moisturizing without irritating my skin is tricky. Ocean Potion Anti-aging SPF 50 proves to be an excellent product and has kept me from burning both here in Vermont and at the ocean.

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