Mosquitoes and Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez: move to, mosquito, motorcycle)

[RN2travel2]

I live in Midtown Anchorage with a wooded area and a wetland within 25-50 yards. The mosquito's are as thick as pea soup here. Really miserable for all in the area. We use a repellent with 98% DEET to just walk out the front door. Other parts of town (dryer areas) do not seem to be so bad. Was in Seward about 10 days ago and had no problem with them at all.

[RAMFEB31]

[quote=RN2travel2;808990]I live in Midtown Anchorage with a wooded area and a wetland within 25-50 yards. The mosquito's are as thick as pea soup here. Really miserable for all in the area. We use a repellent with 98% DEET to just walk out the front door. Other parts of town (dryer areas) do not seem to be so bad. Was in Seward about 10 days ago and had no problem with them at all.

Did U say U still can get 98% Deets? Since the U.S. claimed it was a cartcinogin, I have not found any store selling Deets in that strength. So, can I buy it in Anchorage or any towns in Alaska?

[Jimrushden]

Any advice about the best time of year to avoid mosquitos AND get good weather in Alaska & Yukon?

[akck]

^^ Dead of winter when it's not raining or snowing.

[Chilkoot]

Like RN2travel2 we live in Midtown Anchorage too and agree this year seems to be worse than normal. I went out to look at two moose calves near our house in the greenbelt and as soon as I was off the bike trail and into the woods I was swarmed.

Originally Posted by Jimrushden

Any advice about the best time of year to avoid mosquitos AND get good weather in Alaska & Yukon?

It really varies but the worst is mid June through the end of July. There is usually less precipitation in May which makes it a good month although a little cool. Too early in May though and there could be too much snow to do much.

[Marty Van Diest]

You can avoid mosquitos by staying on the water a long ways from shore, staying out in the middle of soccer fields etc. Otherwise, there are a lot of mosquitos. I have 5-6 of them swarming around me as I tyupe. One is biting my hand right now....seriously!

[JohnPF]

I've heard that a good solution for local little mosquito problems is to let in some bait fish in the water. They'll feed on the mosquito larvae and thus cutting down on its popultion.

[Wandering_Spirit]

Great topic and now I have to ask: in the movie SNOW WALKER what were the bugs that were swarming and attacking the main guy character of the film when he went out on his own? Also, was this in Alaska? I have heard that the mosquitos can get so bad (and thick in swarms) that even the caribu are harrassed by them. I for one have no love for bugs at all.

[JohnPF]

I understand the caribou do move toward the sea on North Slope to get relief from mosquitoes.
I also know of reports that unprotected people in the wild can and did die from the mosquitoe bites. Ones that had no place to go and no knowledge how to protect themselves in the wild. (not neccessarily in Alaska). No sources, just things I have read.
Plus a book I just recently read about "What bugged the dinosaurus". Bugs. Sucked their blood, infected them with diseases. Pandemic infections...

[Marty Van Diest]

When packing stuff into a camp near Medfra on the Kuskokwim we were breathing mosquitos up our noses and into our mouths. I noticed a bunch of mosquitos on my co-workers back so I did a two-handed swat and counted the dead...32 mosquitos in one swat. That's my record.

And people ask why more people don't move to Alaska!