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From "Outdoorphotographer"
Solutions: Ticks, Mosquitoes and Bears, Oh My!
Choosing the right repellent can make all the difference in the field
By Katherine Diaz
Mother Nature inspires us to venture outdoors and capture her many mysteries, but she does have her nuisances: bees that zip by your ear, mosquitoes that make you itch and even bears that rummage through tents, all of which can be disruptive to an otherwise productive day in the field. So we turn to repellents for protection.
Insect repellents come in two formulas: chemical-based and natural-based. Chemical-based formulas contain DEET, an EPA-approved substance that volatilizes and forms a vapor barrier around the skin, blocking bugs’ antennae receptors. The amount of DEET in a given product varies, so choose a repellent based on the amount of time you’ll be outdoors. Note that DEET can be harmful to composite materials found in cameras, and as it’s a toxic chemical, it should be used in the lowest concentration possible to provide the necessary protection.
For those planning two to four hours of outdoor activity, try products with low-DEET levels ranging between 5% to 10%. Cutter’s Skinsations and All Family (
www.cutterinsectrepellent.com) product lines offer 7% DEET levels that protect for up to two hours. Skinsations products contain aloe vera and vitamin E, while the All Family line offers towelettes for easy application. Those seeking a combination of sun and insect protection can look to DERMATONE Sunsect (
www.dermatone.com), which contains 9.5% DEET with waterproof SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunblock.
Medium DEET levels ranging between 15% to 25% are perfect for those spending about four to six hours in moderately infested areas. Repel’s Sun & Bug Stuff Lotion and the Repel Family Formula product line (
www.wpcbrands.com) are ideal mid-level DEET products. The Sun & Bug Stuff Lotion contains an SPF 15 sunblock with 20% DEET and the Family Formula line provides scented protection that includes 18% to 23% DEET.
Planning on being outdoors for more than six hours? Then more than 25% DEET is recommended. The Cutter Outdoorsman product line offers long-lasting, 10-hour protection in high-infestation areas. Chemical-based insect repellents from AGS Labs (800-531-5731) are also good choices. Its Flite Bite™ 30 has a water-based formula and Ultrathon® protects for over 12 hours. Wary of alcohol-based formulas? Ben’s 30 (
www.tendercorp.com) has been reformulated with a longer-lasting water base that reduces dermal absorption in a 30% DEET concentration.
Natural-based repellents can be just as effective as low- to mid-level DEET products. They’re DEET-free, and they smell better. Tender Corp.’s NATRAPEL family of products feature a citronella-based formula, which provides protection from light to heavy insect infestation from two to eight hours. Similarly, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Lotion uses oil from lemon eucalyptus leaves as its main ingredient and provides five to eight hours of bite-free protection.
All Terrain Herbal Armor’s (
www.allterrainco.com) “Time Release” Sub-Micron Encapsulation Technology is unique because it protects oils from premature absorption and evaporation. Flite Bite™ Natural, on the other hand, contains extracts of lemon eucalyptus oils in a non-greasy lotion, providing up to six hours of protection. And from the experts of organic balms, W.S. Badger Company’s Anti-Bug Balm (
www.badgerbalm.com) uses essential oils derived from plant sources, with a lemon-like scent taken from a plant called eucalyptus citriadora.
Bear attacks are something to be mindful of in the outdoors, too. There are a handful of EPA-approved bear repellents, including UDAP Industries’ Pepper Power (
www.pepperpower.com). Developed by Mark Matheny, UDAP founder and a bear-attack survivor, it features an EPA-approved formula that’s instantly effective, organically based and non-lethal. Guard Alaska (
www.guardalaska.com) is the only product registered with the EPA as a repellent for all bear species. It contains 20% ultra-hot pepper spray, with an environmentally safe formula that doesn’t contain flammable or ozone-depleting substances.
