Natural mosquito repellents and bears

Picaridin seems to be the answer. No smell.
It doesn't damage synthetics and has proven to be quite safe.

I have only had limited experience with it, but it seems that at times when Deet works, so does Picaridin.

Nothing beats a head net and bug proof clothing for nasty situations.

Hi Steven,

Thanks for your response. When you refer to "bug proof" clothing, do you mean clothing which has been chemically treated to offer protection for months (like some ex-officio pants and shirts) or just something too difficult for the mosquitoes to bite through? My pants seemed to be OK, but they really bit through my polyester shirt.

thanks again

rhz

The permethrin treated clothing doesn't seem to keep the flying insects away, from what I have found anyway.

By bugproof, I mean clothes that bugs can't bite through. Windshirt and/or windpants.

Pants tucked in socks help keep from getting those leg bites that hikers always seem to get.

I've had pretty good luck with it here in SE AK where, while not as bad as the interior, mosquitoes, no-seeums, white socks, etc can be pretty nasty. You do smell like furniture polish though….and it can take a couple washings to get it out of your clothing. (and can cause some marital strife when other clothes in the wash (like your wife's) take on some of the smell….

I have heard commercial for some company called http://www.cedarcide.com that sells cedar oil insect killer

I wonder if it really works

Hi Chris,

While I like the natural deterrent approach, it's precisely this smell issue that would concern me about using such a product in bear country.

rhz

I also have good experience with lemon eucalyptus, and I wouldn't worry about using it in California. Maybe more worrisome with grizzlies, but not with our black bears.

There's also a new product, Bio UD, that sounds very promising – probably less aromatic than lemon eucalyptus.

I just got the CedarCide products for my yard and dog.

It looks very promising for ticks, fleas and mosquitoes.

I will report back how well it works in the DC area where all three are a big problem.

Cheers,
Craig

"While I like the natural deterrent approach, it's precisely this smell issue that would concern me about using such a product in bear country."

Don't bears look for it when they have a cough? Riiicolaaaaaa….

"While I like the natural deterrent approach, it's precisely this smell issue that would concern me about using such a product in bear country."

Don't bears look for it when they have a cough? Riiicolaaaaaa….

It will attract only Koala Bears! LOL