Alaska is known for many things; big mammals, lots of space, and oil drilling among other things. But Alaska is also famous for its mosquitoes. From June 1st through the end of July it’s mosquito season, and it can be downright nasty and sometimes hard to escape. Unlike some states mosquitoes in Alaska are not controlled through spraying, everyone just has to deal with them. Now, I live in Interior Alaska, right outside of Fairbanks to be precise, and although it’s not the worst place in the state for mosquitoes it isn’t great either. Since you can’t really ever escape all the mosquitoes the key to enjoying your summer is up here is to find ways to find your mosquito zen, as I like to call it, which requires various methods depending upon the severity of the mosquitoes.
As it turns out 2020 has turned out to be the worst mosquito season I’ve seen in eight years, of course, it had to be, it’s 2020. So I’m going to share with you some tips and tricks I’ve figured out to keep my children from being eaten alive by mosquitoes outside, without resorting to nasty chemicals. These tips will help you and your kids enjoy outside activities such as hanging out in the yard, working on projects or chores around the house, foraging for berries and other yummy nature treats, fishing, hiking, camping, swimming, and canoeing.
- Know your habitat: Some areas just have more mosquitoes than others such as wetlands, shallow ponds, deep shady forests, and anything that is cool and damp. Try and avoid these areas with young children as much as you can. Usually, in my yard, my kids could be naked playing in the sprinkler and be fine, but if they step into the woods they are going to be very sorry. If you can’t or don’t want to avoid these areas read the tips below.
- Pick your time of day for outdoor activity: Evening and early morning are usually worst for mosquitoes. Wait until some of the heat of the day starts up before going outside.
- Wear lightweight, breathable, long sleeve pants, and shirts. This will protect your kids from the vast majority of mosquito bites. Then kids just have to protect their heads and faces. If they are too hot in those clothes then wet down their t-shirt or long sleeve shirt. It helps tremendously.
- Wear hats or bandanas over your head and ears. If you kids have long hair let it hang down the back of their neck to protect their necks from bites.
- Buy mosquito netting paraphernalia. I’m talking head nets for kids, nets that fit over strollers, car seats, pack-n-plays, or a really cool pop up screen tent with a floor. These things all work and they are truly lifesavers especially for infants, toddlers, or other children that can’t actively defend themselves from mosquitoes. The pop-up tents are wonderful for reading or coloring in as well.
- Buy some mosquito rackets. They’re electrified and your kids can run around zapping mosquitoes no matter where they’re at. My kids call them ‘ninja rackets’, they are a big hit at our house. Make sure and buy a couple of spare ones for when your kids break them or lose them. Ditto for head nets.
- Buy a huge fan. One of those big box fans or drum fans that you can aim at you or your kids when they are holding still outside. Or on your toddler or infant playing on the lawn. You can put window screen material over the fan covers so little fingers can’t be poked in there. Our fan really has been a lifesaver this year.
- Camp somewhere with a breeze such as on top of a ridgeline or on the bank of a river. Deep forests and shrubs have more mosquitoes.
- Keep moving. Although I’ve had to sprint to keep away from mosquitoes once or twice in a bad spot, usually they are slow so if you are walking briskly, swimming, biking, running, or anything that is moving you’ll be bitten less often.
- Use some non-DEET bug spray (DEET is a common insecticide found in many bug sprays) made out of essential oils. Use only on kids older than three. Spray the top of their hat or shirt, not directly on their skin. My favorite, because it works the best both in terms of repelling insects and lasting, is a lemon eucalyptus one.
Using some combination of these things will get you through mosquito season. When I do anything outside related with my kids I always have accessible: hats, head nets, long sleeve pants, and shirts (I dress them in layers) and non-Deet bug spray. This year is so bad I might bring rackets as well.
