I went to Hitchcock Nature Center yesterday to do a short hike. The short hike turned into an even shorter hike. Apparently all the rain, heat, and humidity is the ideal environment to breed mosquitoes.
I've been going to Hitchcock a lot lately since it's the only place in the area to add elevation to my hiking. I am also going back each week in the hope to catch the Monarch butterfly migration that comes through here in August and September. Last weekend I didn't see nary a mosquito but yesterday - Yowza!
I started my hike and was immediately swarmed. I would wipe my hand along my arm and kill four to six mosquitoes at once. All I could see as I walked the trail were mosquitoes swarming around my head. I don't remember anytime the mosquitos were this bad. Not even in Churchill or Alaska. After maybe fifteen minutes of swatting, smacking, and swearing I gave up and headed back to the car.
Today I have too many bites to count on my arms and a few more around my neck. My elbows, apparently, are a mosquito delicacy. I got welts everywhere and they are starting to itch.
Next week when I go it will be a long shirt and lots of bug spray before I head out again.
Now I'm wondering how long does it take for West Nile to start showing symptoms?
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