Insects are part of any outdoor experience Ticks and mosquitoes spread disease Protect yourself from coming into contact with ticks and mosquitoes REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY RECREATION Tap Into Nature May—July 2015 5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Ticks and Mosquitoes In the summer, we relish spending time outdoors, but we also have to con- tend with the pests of the season. Some bugs are just annoying; others can be downright dangerous, pos- ing health risks to those of us who love the outdoors. Ticks and mosquitoes are the two most common disease-spreading summer pests. Some ticks can carry Lyme disease, and mosqui- toes are known to spread West Nile virus and en- cephalitis. These illnesses can be severe and some- times fatal, but there are some steps you can take to protect your- self and your family from coming into contact with these pests. Wear long sleeves and long pants. Summertime is hot, but the best way to protect your- self from mosquito and tick bites is to cover your skin. Wearing a sweatshirt every time you’re outside might be overkill, but be aware of your outdoor surroundings and dress appropriately. Time spent in wooded areas increases the risk of picking up a tick, and being outside around dawn or dusk puts you at higher risk for mosquito bites. These are the times when it is most important to cover up. It is also helpful to wear light-colored clothing to better see ticks that may have hitched a ride. Wear bug repellent. Bug repellent is effective in deterring mosquitoes, ticks, flies and other in- sects from biting. Repel- lents containing DEET are the gold standard – the most effective way to keep away insects when spending time outdoors, but there are alternative repellent choices. Tradi- tional repellents come in the form of a spray that is generally safe for skin and clothing. Inspect for ticks after spending time outdoors. One of the most im- portant ways to prevent tick bites and tick-borne diseases is to check pets, children, and yourself for ticks after being outdoors. When wearing light- colored clothing, it is easy to spot the dark brown or black insects before they have the chance to bite, but it is also good practice to search for them on your body. Ticks prefer warm areas of the body or areas where skin is thin, such as between toes, behind ears, and in the groin or underarm areas. Ticks generally have to be attached to skin for at least 24 to 48 hours to transmit pathogens, so the earlier you find and properly remove the tick, the better. Avoid overgrown grass. Ticks prefer moist, shady are- as and high grass, so they are commonly found on the edges of roads, paths, and woods. To help reduce the likelihood of picking up a tick, it is best to stay away from these are- as. When at a recreation area, be sure to wear proper cloth- ing and repellent to keep ticks away. Avoid using scented products or wearing perfume when spending time outdoors. Mosquitoes and other insects are attracted to sweet smells. If you know you will be spending time outdoors, avoid using scented shampoos or moisturizers, and do not wear perfumes or colognes, as these may attract more in- sects to you. Ticks and mosquitoes are a part of being outdoors. How- ever, following these sugges- tions can help pro- tect you and your family from tick and mosquito bites.
Transcript
Insects are part
of any outdoor
experience
Ticks and
mosquitoes
spread disease
Protect yourself
from coming
into contact
with ticks and
mosquitoes
REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY RECREATION
Tap Into Nature May—July 2015
5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Ticks and Mosquitoes
In the summer, we relish
spending time outdoors,
but we also have to con-
tend with the pests of the
season. Some bugs are just
annoying; others can be
downright dangerous, pos-
ing health risks to those of
us who love the outdoors.
Ticks and mosquitoes are
the two most common
disease-spreading summer
pests. Some ticks can carry
Lyme disease, and mosqui-
toes are known to spread
West Nile virus and en-
cephalitis. These illnesses
can be severe and some-
times fatal, but there are
some steps you can
take to protect your-
self and your family
from coming into
contact with these
pests.
Wear long sleeves and
long pants.
Summertime is hot, but the
best way to protect your-
self from mosquito and tick
bites is to cover your skin.
Wearing a sweatshirt every
time you’re outside might
be overkill, but be aware of
your outdoor surroundings
and dress appropriately.
Time spent in wooded
areas increases the risk of
picking up a tick, and being
outside around dawn or
dusk puts you at higher
risk for mosquito bites.
These are the times when
it is most important to
cover up. It is also helpful
to wear light-colored
clothing to better see
ticks that may have
hitched a ride.
Wear bug repellent.
Bug repellent is effective
in deterring mosquitoes,
ticks, flies and other in-
sects from biting. Repel-
lents containing DEET are
the gold standard – the
most effective way to
keep away insects when
spending time outdoors,
but there are alternative
repellent choices. Tradi-
tional repellents come in
the form of a spray that is
generally safe for skin and
clothing.
Inspect for ticks after
spending time outdoors.
One of the most im-
portant ways to prevent
tick bites and tick-borne
diseases is to check pets,
children, and yourself for
ticks after being outdoors.
When wearing light-
colored clothing, it is easy
to spot the dark brown or
black insects before they
have the chance to bite,
but it is also good practice
to search for them on
your body. Ticks prefer
warm areas of the body
or areas where skin is
thin, such as between
toes, behind ears, and in the
groin or underarm areas.
Ticks generally have to be
attached to skin for at least
24 to 48 hours to transmit
pathogens, so the earlier you
find and properly remove the
tick, the better.
Avoid overgrown grass.
Ticks prefer moist, shady are-
as and high grass, so they are
commonly found on the edges
of roads, paths, and woods.
To help reduce the likelihood
of picking up a tick, it is best
to stay away from these are-
as. When at a recreation area,
be sure to wear proper cloth-
ing and repellent to keep ticks
away.
Avoid using scented products
or wearing perfume when
spending time outdoors.
Mosquitoes and other insects
are attracted to sweet smells.
If you know you will be
spending time outdoors, avoid
using scented shampoos or
moisturizers, and do not wear
perfumes or colognes, as
these may attract more in-
sects to you.
Ticks and mosquitoes are a
part of being outdoors. How-
ever, following these sugges-
tions can help pro-
tect you and
your family
from tick
and mosquito
bites.
Page 2
Tap Into Nature
Each year, recreation
permit holders enter our
recreation photo contest.
These are the winning
photos, which were
announced at the
recreation annual meeting
on April 8th.
In the Frame
Wildlife: Lois Main, East Haven
Water Scenes: Terry Kennen, Ansonia
Plants: Lois Main, East Haven
People Recreating: Mark Levine,
West Haven
General Scenes: Ron Guerrucci, Stratford
Bass Tournament at Lake
Saltonstall
Sunday, May 17, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Registration and payment will be
at Lake Saltonstall the day of the
tournament. There is a $25 entry
fee (boat and motor are addition-
al). First, second and third prizes
will be awarded. Monetary prizes
will depend on the number of
participants. Boat rentals will be
on a first-come, first-served basis.
CASH only; no checks or credit
cards can be accepted.
West River Ravine Bird Walk at
Lake Bethany
Sunday, May 24, 7 to 9 a.m.
Come to look at and listen for
birds in a variety of habitats with-
in a small space. We will do a
loop trail that includes a power
line right-of-way, a deep ravine,
and the typical deciduous and
coniferous forest. There are
steep areas in the ravine; wear
appropriate footwear. Meet at
the Lake Bethany recreation
parking lot on the south side of
Hatfield Hill Road. This is on the
section of Hatfield Hill Road
between Route 69 and Downs
Road.
Kids’ Fishing Derby at the
Maltby Lakes
Saturday, May 30, 8 a.m. to
12 p.m.
Open to anglers under the age of
16, accompanied by an adult.
There will be prizes awarded to
children in each of four age cate-
gories for catching the largest
fish. Come for fun and prizes! An
Opie Event
Trails Day in Bethany
Saturday, June 6, 9 to 11 a.m.
Join us for a walk below the Mt.
Sanford Ridge. The roughly 3-
mile walk will pass through hard-
wood and conifer stands and
cross some streams. The high-
light of the walk will be an exhi-
bition of a 2-year-old final over-
story removal, and early succes-
sional species will likely be in
abundance. Terrain ranges from
easy to moderate with uneven
surfaces. Sturdy shoes are rec-
ommended. Bring water and a
snack if desired. Meet at the
Water Authority gate on the
south side of Route 42 in Betha-
ny, 0.36 miles east of Route 69
and 0.43 miles west of Candee
Road. Heavy rain cancels. Call
203-430-3159 for status of the
event.
Festival of Arts and Ideas: Cry
You One at the Maltby Lakes
June 13, 14, 16. 17. 18. 19. 20 &
21
See the article on this page for
more information.
Combination Bass and Walleye
Tournament at Lake Saltonstall
Sunday, June 28, 6 a.m. to
1 p.m.
Registration and payment will be
at Lake Saltonstall the day of the
tournament. There is a $25
entry fee (boat and motor are
additional). First prizes will be
awarded for each species. Mon-
etary prizes will depend on the
number of participants. Boat
rentals will be on a first-come,
first-served basis. CASH only;
no checks or credit cards can be
accepted.
Any event marked “An Opie
Event” means that it is suitable
for children. If the event is
not marked rain or shine, in
the event of inclement
weather, please call 203-401-
2660 for event cancellation
notice the day of the event.
Page 3
Tap Into Nature
The International Festival of
Arts and Ideas selected the
Maltby Lakes as the setting for
live performances of Cry You
One, an outdoor performance
that journeys into the heart of
the nation’s disappearing wet-
lands. Part song, part story, part
procession for lost land, Cry You
One celebrates the people and
cultures of South Louisiana
while looking at the crisis of our
vanishing coast.
The performances are sched-
uled for Saturday, June 13
through Sunday, June 21. There
will be no performance on
Monday, June 15. Performances
will be at 2 p.m. on Saturdays
and Sundays and at 4 p.m. on
weekdays.
There will no doubt be some
impact on permit holders who
come to the Maltby Lakes at
those times. Parking will be
limited. The Maltby Lakes won’t
be closed to recreation permit
holders, but you may want to
go to another recreation area
to avoid possible crowds. Other
lakes open for fishing are Lake
Chamberlain and Lake Salton-
stall.
For more information on Cry
You One, visit the International
Festival of Arts & Ideas website
at www.artidea.org.
Calendar of Events Cry You One
Opie’s World: Tap Into Nature
will be on Wednesday, August
19, from 12 to 4 p.m., this year
at Lake Saltonstall.
Save the Date!
Going Digital
RWA Recreation joined Face-
book three years ago; it is now
time for the rec program to keep
up with the times and offer a
website devoted to you, our
permit holders.
In May, we will be implementing
an extension of the recreation
area of our website that will
allow you to access maps and
newsletters online as well as
provide a way for you to pur-
chase or renew your recreation
permit online.
Once the new site is live, you will
be able to register on the site to
access many of the same things
that now come in your welcome
package. No more worries about
losing your permit or dash
pass—just print out a new one.
Watch for more information on
the Regional Water Authority
website (rwater.com) and on the
Recreation Facebook page.
REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY RECREATION
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 411
New Haven, CT 90 Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT 06511
