How bad are mosquitoes/bugs on Assateague Island this time of year?
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Anonymous
| We're camping this weekend. Anybody have experiences/advice to share, either about bugs or about where to see ponies? |
Anonymous
| It's been a while since camping on Assateague, but they can BE REALLY BAD! I think it depends on the wind direction. |
Anonymous
|
Unless you are in a constant wind of at least 10mph, you are going to get eaten alive.
End of summer/fall is the absolute WORST time of year for mosquitoes. They sense the days are getting shorter, and are in an absolute frenzy for getting blood to nourish the eggs they will lay that will overwinter and hatch in spring. After the first frost they will be more tolerable, but still active once the air temps reach the 50's. Only after a good hard freeze will they be gone until next April. Assateague is a miserable, inhospitable place. Except for a handful of days in the Fall and late Spring. |
Anonymous
| They are about the size of a crow. |
Anonymous
|
It's still been pretty warm so i am going to assume they will be pretty bad.
You absolutely need a screen shelter over your picnic area. You'll be fine on the beach, but the area where you walk from your car to the sites is hell. (i am assuming you are doing the walk in sites.) Where is your site? Closer/right on the beach is a little better than the spots a little further back in the area with more brush. It is beautiful there and in theory an amazing place to camp, but the mosquito situation is f-ing insane. Not sure i would ever go back because they were that bad and made it impossible to be anywhere other than right on the beach, under the screen tent or in the tent. There was no chilling by the fire because even with 40% deet we were getting eaten alive. |
Anonymous
| AArrghhh No. I am going this weekend. Not camping tho so hopefully beach will be ok. |
Anonymous
they aren't on the beach so you will be fine. They are in the brush thought which is around the campsites. |
Anonymous
| oh and as far as advice on seeing the horses.. you can't miss them, they are everywhere. |
Anonymous
| we go in early october most years (on the state park side) and it's not bad for bugs at all. of course, late september could be completely different. when we've gone in the summer, the bigger issue has been biting flies instead of mosquitoes... they are painful when they bite. |
Anonymous
Yes and watch out for poop. |
Anonymous
and have a way to secure your food. Dry goods in a locked bin and something around cooler to lock it because the horses will try to get into your food. |
Anonymous
| We went in the first week of August and the bugs were ferocious. Good news they're not on the beach during the day, but in the brush and tons of them landed on us while biking. They do come out at dusk even on/near the beach. Just have a good tent and use deep woods bug spray. |
Anonymous
| Went once years ago, though it was in summer. So bad we've never even considered returning. We got caught in a thunderstorm so sat in our car to eat lunch, and even in a down pour, mosquitos were bouncing off the exterior of the car windows, trying to find a way in to eat us. |
Anonymous
don't buy any special locks. Just put the stuff back in your car when you leave the area... |
Anonymous
|
Mosquitoes and bugs are antagonists of a great camping. We went there in September when the temperatures went down. However, we had to deal with bugs and mosquitoes of all sizes. It was our first camping and we tried to make as memorable and safe as we can. Before camping we have read some tips how to survive while camping in Assateague island:
1. Take the most powerful cream/spray against bugs 2. Vinegar is a great substitute of traditional creams/sprays, in case you are allergic to them. Bugs aren’t fond of the scent of vinegar. 3. Anti-bugs bracelets emit chemicals which create a shield against insects of all types. 4. Candles, lanterns and a qualitative pop up tent are also great methods to protect from bugs All in all, be precautious and take the problem of mosquitoes and bugs serious, otherwise your camping will be ruined. |