The hoot of a great horned owl. The munching of a mule deer enjoying grass. The crunching of your feet on the sandy soil.
To any hiker, these sounds enhance the joy of being outdoors. But the endorphin rush of a great trail can be blunted by the high-pitched buzz of a mosquito hovering around your neck, trying to score some lunch. Unfortunately, Southern California’s mosquito season began in early May and there’s no end in sight.
This period has grown “longer and longer” according to Susanne Kluh, general manager at Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. “When I started at the district 25 years ago, we pretty much put our [tracking and collection] tools away in the middle of October,” Kluh said. “Now because it stays warm so long, [mosquito season] really goes into late November, sometimes early December.
” Being bitten by a mosquito can result in an itchy, unsightly red bump and — depending on where you are — serious disease. Outbreaks of dengue fever have been seen this year in several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, underscoring the importance of wearing repellent regardless of where you spend time outdoors. So I’ve put together an explainer on how to protect yourself while re-creating in Southern California.
Trust me, it will come in handy when planning your next camping trip or hike ! Too many. Los Angeles County is home to several types of mosquitoes, including multiple kinds of culex mosquitoes that spread West Nile virus.
