Pest and bugs in areas of Bath and Oriental (Beaufort: home, live in)

[Grimreaper105]

Hey,
We are narrowing down our search area to move to. Looking at either Bath or Oriental NC. Wife had a question about insects and pest in these areas. we live in NJ right now, and down by the bay and ocean are these nasty Green head and black flies that bite as soon as they land on you. Travels in swarms. we were wondering what are the biggest problems in these areas? Are the insects bad? what is the snake population like? can they be kept at bay with insecticides? Thanks for any help.

[Bill Hitchcock]

Snakes? Yep-The region has them. Below is a picture of a snake that I took a couple of months ago downtown Oriental, on the road, right at waters aedge




He was eating an eel

As far as the biting flies. Most prominent are the deer flies or sometimes called the May flies. These nasty biting critters come out in May (hence the name) and hang around for a month or so.
In all of my ventures in Carteret, Craven, Onslow, Pamlico, Beaufort Counties-I have never experienced a swarm of these flies.

I have had the awful "swarming" experience with them in West Virginia.
For some reason the flies seemed to be attracted to black and the very dark colors. I was riding in a red pick up truck thru the woods in West Virginia when both side view mirrors-both the color black-got mauled by these flies. The rest of the truck was left alone.

Any way-Back to North Carolina-I am not trying to scare you away from Oriental or Bath. But please keep in mind that the Inner Banks of North Carolina is for the most paart (and by many peoples standard) undeveloped. Water, water everywhere and is in a subtropic zone-So we get "critters". But nothing like Florida!! Oy!
The region is also loaded (maybe even over loaded) with deer, wild turkey, ducks, geese, swans and the fishing? Well lets just say its, "World Class!"

Bill Hitchcock

[gigimac]

I think mosquitoes will be your challenge, but that's what screen porches are for, plus you get used to putting on bug repellants before you go outside. Bugs are a little bigger, but like anything, you get accustomed, and you can have a guy come and spray around your home every year to keep them out of there. Snakes hang around water, but they're usually black snakes which are harmless and eat rodents, so they're good to have and they won't bother you. Usually you won't see any if you keep your yard mowed.

[nclandman]

Don't let anybody fool you about bugs along the coast of NC, especially the so called "Inner Banks" Look at the marsh and water surrounding the area. There is no better place anywhere to breed mosquitos and flys. They can be oppressive at times anywhere in the areas you mentioned.