Creepy Crawlies and Things that bite

Hi,

Were coming over in August 09, what things (if any) are likely to take a bite out us, drink our blood or savage us in some other nasty way. Your help to keep me and the wife in one piece is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

roger

Creepy Crawlies and Things that bite

Hi roger,

Here%26#39;s a post from earlier this year

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28962-i673-k19047…

That was May, you%26#39;ll be there in August when things have normally dried out some and there are fewer mosquitoes.

The 2008 Guide to Custer state park p. 4 and p. 12 have information on possible dangers and wildlife.

www.sdgfp.info/parks/Regions/Custer/index.htm

If you hike on the prairie or the badlands, keep an eye/ear open for rattlesnakes, but don%26#39;t let fear of them stop you from hiking. If I remember correctly, if you see/hear a rattlesnake, you should stop and stand still to give the snake a chance to retreat. Some suggest backing away slowly. (Someone please correct me if I%26#39;m wrong.)

One animal you may not think of as dangerous is the bison. They can be very unpredictable, can run very fast, have sharp horns and you%26#39;ll be there at the beginning of their rut when males are more agitated than usual. They are fascinating to watch, just remember to keep your distance - I think the rule is at least 25 yards.

Creepy Crawlies and Things that bite

Thank for your help,What about smaller stuff such as mosquito%26#39;s or bugs, I%26#39;ve seen some reports of bed bugs in the Hotels!, are these common?, what the best stuff to use to protect yourself? Or are the summer months clear of pests?Thanks again Roger

In August mosquitos are not such a big problem. The area is usually quite dry at that time and mosquitos need stagnant water to breed. There will be some, especially during the hour after sundown and around sunrise, but usually not hords. It would be a good idea to keep a bottle of mosquito repellant handy, just in case.

I%26#39;ve never encountered bed bugs myself so I don%26#39;t know too much about precautions for them. This site has some information about them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedbug

The Mayo Clinic recomends wearing bed clothes that cover as much of your skin as possible.

Ticks can carry lyme disease and others, but the population seem, to me, less hungry later in the summer. If you want to be really careful, you can wear light colored clothes with pants and long sleeves and tuck your pantlegs into your socks. This lets you more easily see any that get on you. But you%26#39;ll see few folks that live here doing that. For my family, we do a check of skin and hair, morning and bedtime and maybe an evening rather than morning shower.

In the badlands you may encounter large spiders, but unless you sit on one or step on it with bare feet, you%26#39;re probably safe.

All-in-all, I don%26#39;t think you should let this stuff worry you too much. I think our creepy-crawly things are minor compared to many parts of the earth. :~)

Hi, Thanks for the info.

I didnt think there was much to worry about, but better safe than sorry. We live in a wet area and get loads of mozzies in the summer, unfortunately they love me!!

Thanks again

roger

Good advice for you. I just wanted to make a comment on your bedbugs question. Like Lil, I%26#39;ve never encountered them either, luckily. Here in the states, we have news magazine shows, and one highlighted these nasty critters. The reporters recommended lifing the mattresses on the beds and looking for ';droppings'; or any dead remnants. If possible, you can also remove the headboards from the walls and look for evidence behind those. From what I heard, bedbugs mainly come out at night, so you an easily settle into a room and not realize they are there. By checking the places they lurk, you can possibly avoid a potential problem. I make this a practice now when I check into any hotel.

All in all, I don%26#39;t think a lot of hotels have these critters, fortunately. Just be aware, and I think you will be fine.

Hi There,

Thanks for your advice, its much appreciated.

Regards

Roger

Generally, the area is pretty tame as far as killer pests. As mentioned above, rattlesnakes are common in the Badlands and you%26#39;ll see them in the lower elevations of the Black Hills...like occasionally on my patio. When I see one, I just quickly get out of the way. They can%26#39;t strike more than a few feet and you can outrun (or more like outwalk) them so there%26#39;s no reason to hang around and give it more time to bite you. I suppose if you find yourself at a standoff with one that%26#39;s inches away already ready to strike, freezing or backing away slowly is a good idea but otherwise--you should be to jump away quick enough to avoid getting bit.

It%26#39;s not a good idea to be on foot around buffalo. They can charge and you won%26#39;t outrun them. When driving close to them, it%26#39;s a good idea not to get out of the car. If you%26#39;re hiking past them, being in trees is better than being in clear view.

Poison Ivy is common to the Black Hills. Once you know what it looks like, it%26#39;s easy to spot. It%26#39;s a three leafed weed-like plant.

Thanks for your help,

Much appreciated

Roger