Black Fly - How To Protect Yourself In The Wilderness
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- Swarmed by hundreds of black flies we demonstrate some effective ways to defend yourself from these biting insects and enjoy a spring day in the wilderness. You have to see it to believe it. Econo Challenge demonstrates how we manage serious black fly conditions in a Canadian forest setting.
Mosquito Repellent Warning - • Mosquito Repellent War...
National Film Board - Black Fly Video - • Blackfly
Thank you FlashGeiger for this link.
You will enjoy this video series if you hike, backpack, trek, paddle, kayak, climb, pedal, wilderness camp, or love it all!
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Your ability to sit there and talk calmly in the midst of that has me in absolute awe.
Trust me they do drive me crazy. You should have seen me jumping around between shots. LOL
Right. Omg I cry like a bitch when they bite me but I'm also allergic and swell up and have a fiery reaction from hell
From Ontario use to be like this, now biked 200km on gravel trails bumpy so I couldn't accelerate just swarmed with black flies and mosquitoes. hours of getting bit I just gave up and only swatted the ones on me casually than I seen the less I move the less aggressive they attack, was wearing shorts mind you, I find mosquitoes worse I can really feel those black flies I only tend to fell the land
@@antoniocorreia8789 what did the Indians do. They must have had some natural way to combat that. They had to go hunt in the woods & fish.
I was itching just watching
Don't forget the phantom blackflies that you feel on your skin for hours after being outside.
Well done.
You have hit every important fact about dealing with Black flies. From wearing light coloured clothing to tucking your pant legs into you socks. You even mention, which are regularly overlooked facts, that Black Flies do not bite indoors or after dark. In my younger years working as a fishing guide I too became quite familiar with the ways and whys of the Black Fly. Many times I would return to camp with a trickle of blood behind each ear. This area has the thinnest skin and gives off the greatest heat signature.
Although they are an indicator of clean flowing water and an important part of a trouts diet, they are also the devil of the north and one of the reasons it took longer for the north to be explored and developed. It is common for moose to escape the feasting flies by walking out onto roadways where there is a bit of a breeze.
To this day I avoid venturing north during the Black Fly season like the plague. Fishing can wait a week or two.
Such an informative video, especially when you're suffering to the degree you are in this video, deserves more views.
LOL ... I agree!
His physiological response is clearly evident, including welts on his face! I get an allergic reaction to that blood-thinning venom the female secrets. The itch comes back to haunt me months later. The bite location takes more than 2 weeks to heal. God Bless him!
I went for a swim in the lake, yesterday. What an experience!
I just bought riverfront property in Maine. Wow this video is pure gold. Thanks for making it!!
I was gonna just watch a few sec of the video but by you being so informative I watched the entire thing
Thank you for the great advice and education on black flys. I just returned from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where the flys were just starting to make their appearance. I will be better prepared next year when we return.
Thank you. Your feedback makes it all worth it.
Great video, in Haliburton, ON we have 3 seasons...Blackfly season...Mosquitos season...Deerfly season, keep up the good work and thank you
I had never encountered black flies in my home state of Tennessee till I moved next to a moving stream. Thanks to this video, I now better understand why and explaining the attraction to colors since I have always favored darker clothing for general wear especially pants and did not realize the problem of dark hair. So thank you for this information.
Comments and feedback like this make it all worthwhile. Thank you so much.
This vid has really stood the test of time for me. I watch it every year mid-May as motivation, not to get me into the backcountry in June, but to talk me out of it lol. Unfortunately, this year I'm gonna have to give those little vampires their fill, it's been a long lockdown. Hope you are keeping well in these weird times
Thank you SO SO MUCH for this video. I am a nature lover but I cannot handle the black flies. They make my skin crawl! I need the OFF and the net! Much appreciated!!
Avon Skin so Soft not only repels them, and mosquitos, but when applied the blackflies disappear, until I need to reapply anyway. It's truly amazing how well it works. I live in the woods near several streams and go through this every spring of every year.
Common nuisance here in Finland as well. Last time the reserve army called me to a rehearsal week, was annoying as hell to deal with mosquitoes, gadflies, deerflies, horseflies and blackflies. Hands and face full of bites when we got back home.
Deerflies are my personal devils in the woods. I hope to do a show about them in the near future.
@@EconoChallenge - Just watched a couple of vids on how well that double sided tape works for May flies. Think is called Tred-not deer fly repellant. Watch on UA-cam, great stuff!
Your video definitely made me laugh and itch! I go landlocked salmon fishing in NE Maine every year in the spring and black flies love me for it. It’s gross but I don’t wash my hair or shower with soap or use any fragrances for the entire week (only the day I’m leaving) - I just clean the personal places where the bugs can’t get to. A good application of bug repellent every day and many times throughout the day works well and maybe some DEET on the hat and cuffs when the bugs are heavy. Wear tight fitting long sleeve shirts, a tight neck buff pulled over the face and ears and up under a hat to keep them off too. Eating meat, onions and garlic seems to help as you sweat it out through your pores. It’s a real ‘guys’ trip and lots of fun but keeping the bugs at bay is a must. Now I’m looking at tying some fishing flies that imitate the black fly larvae to put the bite on those salmon! Thanks for your sacrifice and insight. You’re pretty brave for sharing!
I'm from southern Tennessee and the mosquitos around here are huge. My friend was intoxicated and fell asleep while camping in his truck. The next day we had to take him to the hospital the next day because he had swollen up so bad. The doctor said unfortunately for him the alcohol in his blood probably made it twice as bad. I wondered myself how he was able to drive through the swollen slits where his eyes were and the pain of it all... Poor guy... He got lucky he didn't contract any disease and has since fully recovered...
My father has an allergic reaction to bug bites. He takes antihistamine pills for a few days before he goes into the woods or the same thing will happen to him.
Very informative! They are obviously similiar in ways to the deer fly, but also different. Deer flies do not care what color you have on, and bug spray of any type is generally of no use. Generally will not get into your hair or under clothes. Deer flies fly fast and direct, usually landing on the neck or face. They also do not swarm like these black flies seem to do. But man do they smart when they bite.
It is on my list to make a video about Deer Flies.
Great video. I sent it to a friend who has been bitten by them all over her head and was wondering how to keep them away. Your video is great I sent it to her today. Thanks for the information👍
That is awesome feedback. Thank you so much.
Great video full of fantastic information. Thank you for sacrificing your self for us. lol Be well and stay safe out there. -Tim
I always wondered about black flies and mosquitoes 🦟. May 21, 2022 in New Brunswick, Canada 🇨🇦 the black flies has started. I do live beside a river. Thank you for pointing out in by the river and also within the city because I always wondered that because my friends are 10 minutes away and they have no black flies. Great video!
Tremendous video. I found it on a search engine, but came here just to tell you how much I enjoyed it. Truly informative and really well done. Thanks!
Excellent video instruction -- 100% spot on accurate. I live in Alaska where black flies are notoriously bad, far worse than mosquitoes and that's saying quite a bit.
Here they are much worse than mosquitoes also when they are at their peak but they eventually go away until next year. You don't seem to get that relief until the cold weather comes back. That would drive me crazy. Thank you very much for your comments. It means a lot to me.
In Australia we use a mixture of Dettol and baby oil then wipe over skin. Dettol is usually used as an antiseptic if you’ve never heard of it. Particularly good for tiny midges or sand flies.
I have seen Dettol before. Interesting idea to try here.
I inherited my Tilley Hat from my Dad. He got it when he went to Africa after he retired in 1998. I never knew it had a pocket , hahaha ! Thanks, great video. I can't wait to get up North into the wilderness! Also , thx for info. about 'deet' !
Great video. I'm sitting here with 5 red bites around my waist. Should have seen this a couple days ago. Learned to not wear
oversized sweat shirts in N.H.
+Chris Hartman At least mosquitoes will not climb under your clothing. I am so glad black flies don`t stick around very long. They are thick right now.
Great video! My friends and I are going backpacking during black fly season, and after watching you get tortured for 15 minutes I am quite concerned about our trip...
At the very least keep them off your face.
My family and I just moved to the Elliot Lake area and we enjoy being outdoors during the warm weather months. We heard the blackflies can be nasty during the Spring.and early Summer. Sharing your info on how to deal with these biting insects is a great help. We will try the OFF botanicals to see how it works I prefer to use Muskol but I will try the Off,and I do have a couple bug hats as well that we use. Again Thanks for the info. :-)
Only 3 eps from your channel and I already learned so much! Thanks.
Thank you so much.
SUPER useful video - thank you so much for the details!
Cascade Blvd in Belleville. You won't believe how excited I was to see that. I too spent a lot a time there when I was a kid. You just passed my friend's old house!
That is so cool. Do you remember that little stream? It used to be full of spawning minnows every spring and now it is a storm drain for a subdivision.
I wish I did. I do remember about 10 years ago there used to be decent sized fish in that creek. Then again it used to stay fuller through the summer. Did the stream run through where tracey park dr is?
Ya. Well Tracey Park has been extended now. It used to run through some swampy areas in the woods next to the park. Right at the end where the sewer is now was some rapids and for some reason thousands of minnows would spawn in the gravel in the spring.
Wow thats alot of bugs this video is good info because was planning on visiting maine now I will be prepared for those bugs thankyou for the video.
You are welcome. Enjoy your trip.
man , when you whip out that net man suit, had me laughing like hell
Thanks for your help
Nothing ruins a walk or run more than swarming gnats, mosquitoes, biting flies and untrained off leash dogs. That's why autum and winter are the best times of year to enjoy the outdoors.
@@pattgsm Totally agree.
Good advice! I'll keep it in mind for my upcoming trip to Canada.
Please do a video on ticks as well. Loving the videos so far
Thank you! This was very informing video. Black flies can be so aggressive, I remember there was a time it bit through my cap and thick hair to bite my scalp. It even can go through my thick pair of jeans I had on.
The black flies that I encountered in MX, were half the size of those in Nee England, and they landed, cutters first, so if you let them land, it’s too late, you’re bit. Very itchy!
They are mean here in Mexico
watching this made me more itchy ahh!!
I appreciate the info. Worked building power line in Northern Manitoba/70's and saw my share/swarms of Black Flies. Only bug spray that worked was Amway.Everybody Would go through a can of spray every day, bee keeper hats, taped up cuffs on shirts and pants. After that, skeeters seemed like nothing. Big difference between tourists and ,,,, guys climbing poles/towers
I appreciate the info we have a nasty blackfly season here in downeast Maine. and they tend to be such a problem it keep me and my family indoors
We got lucky this year when it comes to the black flies. The spring run off dried up fast and we only had half the black flies you see in this video. However, the farmers are having trouble getting the crops growing due to the lack of water. Tough trade off for sure.
Yeah that's always a problem we got a good week of rain last week hopefully you guys got some of it
Great vid! Thank you!!!
Jeep … This is an oldie but a goodie!!! It popped up in my suggested video playlist. Outstanding video and content. Hope this comment finds all things great and good with you and yours!!! Be safe, all my best and God bless!!! Chuck Knight from Buffalo, Texas, USA. 🤠👨🌾✝️🙏🐩
Hey. Thanks for dropping by. All is well here. Hoping to have new content up soon.
@@EconoChallenge Fabulous!!! Chuck. 👨🌾✝️🐩
I have heard that mosquitos hate the smell of the natural oils in pine branches, so putting pine branches on an outdoor fire is a good natural repellant. Have you tried this with blackflies?
Also, in the UK, we have a product made by cosmetics company 'Avon' called 'skin so soft' which many backpackers say is excellent for keeping small flies away. Have you ever tried using this (don’t know if Avon products are available in Canada though)?
Interesting video. Nice work.
We do have Avon products here and skin so soft does not repel biting insects in my opinion. We have tried it in the past. Fresh pine bows on the campfire is promoted by natives of this country as a way to deal with biting insects. I have observed that anything warmer than my body tends to distract or confuse mosquitoes. So for example, I will see them swarming around my freshly heated cup of morning coffee. I believe that a campfire will have a similar distracting effect. Smoke and heat from the campfire make it harder for the mosquitoes to locate you. Pine, spruce, hemlock, and other conifers have resinous sap that burns well. I find the soot from fires burning this wood to be very sticky. The smoke is much more irritating to my eyes, throat, and lungs than say hardwood smoke from maple or oak. I am guessing now but I think the smoke from conifers in general might be a little more irritating to mosquitos also.
we moved to NH last Sept from GA due transfer, The wife and I are bug outdoor folk but is miserable up here..black flies spring then the skeeters now the bitting deer flies or what ever you call them up here, you can't go for a walk without getting attacked by something..I can't wait for fall to get here...
Just got back from the White Mountains myself. The deer flies are out but you should see how bad they get here. I have been planning to do a video to show just how many will swarm you when hiking in some spots. You will appreciate where you are now. But I agree fall is a wonderful time of the year when it comes to bugs!!!!!!!
Great stuff! Thank you for sharing both your knowledge and tips, as well as a little blood for the cause!
Awesome feedback
Great video. Thank you. The Yellow flies here in North Florida are similar and keep me out of the woods. Unfortunately, they seem to last to October/November.
I am visiting in August and was hoping to escape the bugs. Oh well. :-)
Vinegar, witchazel, mint, eucalyptus, and lemongrass oil ...lots of vinegar and lemongrass ...they hate it
Brilliant video. I guess these pesky creatures are similar to our midges. Very informative thanks 👍
Thank you for the tips..I appreciate you taking the time to post this video..again thank you
You are welcome. I really appreciate the comment
I went to Canada with friends. I saw a swarm attack 1 kid and didn't attack 3 of us. I had 1 bite the whole week. The other kid had huge welts all over. They loved his skin.
Yup. We notice that some of our group are bothered by these guys more than others. I have no idea why.
You must have had to pee really bad to get out of the car in that swarm! Haha
+zalkona What a guy will do for views. LOL
Did some fishing in Maine.... Only thing that even came close to helping was DEET, Full Head Netting, long sleeves and Gloves.... Around the fire was the only place they were not present by the millions....Thanks for the suggestion
Glad to hear that DEET works. It has been a long time since I have used a repellent with DEET that I had forgotten if it worked on black flies. I have had a few viewers ask me.
@@EconoChallenge Thank you for replying .They make any outdoor activity a challenge for certain, especially if your sensitive to their bite
Very informative video Jeep!!! Thanks for all the hard work you always put into your videos! Cheers!
Cheers. I do it because people like you come back and watch. So Thank you!
omg - this is where the Postal armageddon flies come from :)
Thnx for the info.
I will be sure to try out the OFF this season. Bugs are def. out like crazy already.
Once again, thnx for sharing.
It is great stuff and works without chemicals. That is what I love about it.
I might be seven years late, but this was an awesome video! I am looking at properties in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, specifically about 30 minutes south of Sault Ste Marie. I wonder how significant the problem is in comparison, though I should find out firsthand when I go visit the area soon, haha.
Thanks for the great content and very helpful info!
I'm looking at backwoods properties in that region too... how are the black flies and other pests up there?
You did good service sir!
Thank you kindly
FYI. I don't like the idea of DEET as a chemical on my body. However, I tried a product with lemon eucalyptus and my throat got stratchy and felt like it was swelling -- a modest allergic reaction, probably. So, if you try the lemon euc stuff, don't just slather it on heavily until you've given it a test run. I use DEET now because of my reaction to lemon eucalyptus stuff.
Very good advice. Thank you.
I feel very informed. Thank you!
Cool video ! I'm a land surveyor in Illinois and bugs are a problem! Haha
Then you know the nightmare these little vampires can be!!!
Ive learned so much watching your video thanks
The pain was worth it then. Thanks for sharing.
Great video. Thank you for sharing the information.
Oh the Little Black Fly in North Ontar-i-o, Folks look up the Black Fly Song and give it a listen : )
@@rickarmstrong4704 I put a link to it in the description
I try over counter lotion, pink lotion, tea tree oils, cuticle salve , Vicks, Burt bees products
They met you once you open the door.
Help with relief. Where do you get your gear you wear. Great video.
Sacrificing yourself for science. Thank you!!!
That was awesome to read.
For some reason all my life I have been able to walk around where mosquito's are and I do not get more then a few bites. Blackfly's however do like to try to drive me nuts. I watch a guy who lives in Northern Russia and he says the old timers taught him that if they put diesel fuel on some cloth and then let it dry and wear that they are mostly not bugged
I wonder if that was lars from Survival Russia. I have heard that also but I don't think I want to smell like diesel fuel. Permetherine for mosquitos and bug jacket for black flies.
Great video and exactly the info I've been looking for. Thank you!
Thanks for the visit and the comment.
Me, a Black man, yesterday, sweating, pushing a dethatcher, and breathing heavy.
Black flies: LUNCH IS SERVED!!!!
Totally awesome, very informative as always! Hopefully there will be a tick segment? Thanks for sharing!
that was a great video with one exception,, you for got to mention permethrin,, its great too for clothing only but works great,,, been there done that!!!!!
I produced two video on how well (or not so well) some of the bug control devices work in the wild. As a result of posting those videos, viewers introduced me to permethrin spray. We can not buy in in stores in Canada ...yet, but it can be ordered from and delivered by Amazon. I now use it on my cloths and am very very impressed with how will it works.
Super helpful, thank you!
very instructive and clear nice to watch, good teacher
Great video. Thanks for sharing. You missed a great opportunity for a joke around 3:10.
Watching this , 2022. Thanks for a great video as usual
Great video Jeep, i was hoping you was going to give me this secret bug repellent that would change my life darn. lol I live with these as well so i know this info, tho the life and how they form and such was very interesting. In your full jacket which i have used, you may see yourself in a magazine or news, as a bigfoot pic lol take care buddy and great video.
I wish I had thee magic formula. That Off stuff works really well without chemicals. That is something eh? Have you tried it out?
I have trie skin so soft people say that works but it dont for me. I use the highest deet available usually, and to be honest they eat thru that at times and one time i remember soaking my self down with it and then they still ate so i had another brand with high deet content and put that on as well. about an hour later i had to pack up, i had the worse head ache and ready to vomit feeling. I think i od on the stuff lol
I know that feeling. I can't stand the DEET stuff. I used to have some suff that had 99% DEET on the label. It killed my video camera. Have tried to avoid using ever since. Can't get that strong of DEET content anymore up this way. It can't be good for ya!
Are black flies the same as horse flies? Horse flies is what I’m trying to keep away. They are NOTORIOUS in NH.
im not sure but horse flies seems bigger
Horse flies are much bigger than black flies. They are much bigger than deer flies also. Black flies are a little smaller than mosquitoes but do bite the same way horse and deer flies bite.
Terrific information Jeep! We have had a cool wet spring here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the black flies and mosquitoes are about to descend on us in large numbers. Also, I went to a lecture on lyme disease last week and found it to be very interesting. Because of tourism in northern Wisconsin and Michigan the government is try to make light of how rapid this disease is spreading. They say spraying your clothing with permethrin helps. Sawyer makes a spray and it sells at Amazon. Be well. Sincerely, Ossie
Thanks for the reminder that I could use an update on lyme disease myself. Checked out some info on permethrin very quickly this morning. I will be doing some more reading later. Always a good idea to research these chemicals for bug control.
EconoChallenge Here is a web site I found helpful Jeep: www.wisconsinlyme.net
These tics are nasty, but like you say, you have to be careful with the chemicals too. Stay safe out there my friend! Ossie
That video link you have provided is a great resource. I hope others read these comments and check it out while it is still available.
EconoChallenge Your welcome Jeep. The illnesses from these tics are scary so we have to stay informed and protect ourselves. I don't like it that the information gets suppressed to protect tourism but such is the media. Take care, Ossie
The black flies in Yooper Michigan along lake superior, are so bad. pretty sure they will still bite after using that repellent. They bite through clothing too....
That s when you just have to wear the bug jacket..
Great idea for the Tilley pocket! Putting my mosquito net in there right now!
We have blackfies from May through until the end of June or until we have a hot week in the mid 20's.Cor 80 f. Or above. WE have a cottage in Quebec Canada. It is on a lake and no running fresh water like streams. They are worse in the woods or shade. They are really thick in clouds of blackfies.
This is the best advice so far from any channel I've watched about the terrible black flies. By the way, where I live (in a large town with no closeby ponds or rivers), I have plenty of them in my garden when I'm working it. However, there is a river about a mile away. Is that considered close enough to attract them?
Most of the people I'm with or walk by aren't even being touched while I'm being swarmed and bitten. Even insects can't resist Macho Madness! Oooooooooooooooooooooooh Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaahh! Dig It!
LOL
I reeaallly hate blackflies. They used to get bad in northern BC. I didn't wear short sleeves or pants for three years.lol. Oddly, either they don't like me, or I don't react to their bites, but they drive me absolutely nuts with their buzzing and their tendency to get stuck in my wild mop of hair (if I don't have a bandana.)
I think you can develop a tolerance to the bites. I don`t react the way I used to in my younger years. Bandana to keep them out of you hair is a must.
Best vid on the subject Jeep! Always good to "know thine enemy" and fight back with wisdom and knowledge. "Off" Botanicals is going in the pack in addition to the bug nets! I'd rather suffer than use DEET, can't stand the stuff. Beauty.
I totally agree on the DEET. I hate how it feels on the skin and the smell!!!
As far as I'm concerned it's an industrial solvent as you found with the video cam and can't be good for biochemistry!
I've had good success with that non deet cream, also hand sanitizer helps too but does not last long.
I did not know that about hand sanitizer. Really?
Started bringing in sanitizer a few years ago, maybe they don't all work but stops the stinging (Mossies) and keeps them away. Interesting info on blackflies.
I have had one bad experience with deet having it eaten some of a watchband 20 years ago. I still continue to use it but in less concentrations. I have not had a problem, but then I am very careful applying it. Other high priced things it will dissolve are Goretex and some of the plactics on modern hiking boots. Not sure if it will eat high priced polycarbonate lenses like my glasses, nor do I intend to try to find out. Thanks for the video.
You are very welcome. Thank you for sharing your info. Hopefully, others will read this one.
Thank you for the useful video
This is exactly what were dealing with in ontario right now!! Its awful
I had to come out of my protective shell to eat. That's when it was hell
We used to go to northern Ontario in July and we would get bit
Lovely video, thanks.
And I think I heard something like "antiphylactic shock", I think the correct form is "Anaphylactic shock".
Also, thanks for tips and sacrifice.
Good ears. I did indeed say "Antiphylactic". I have never seen the word written until now. Thank you for your help. Awesome.
EconoChallenge It's all right, we all make mistakes. Thanks for good video.
Great video,. learned a bit about the flies other then what I already know,.. I hate them :-) I do a lot of backpacking in VT,,. the general rule is to avoid doing between mothers day and fathers day (mid may to mid june)
I hate these guys also. They can keep me out of the forest at times.
Great video! But I can’t wear all those layers in the Memphis heat lol
True. It would be hot.
Cool vid, thanks for the info.
Good information Agent Smith! You should wear sunglasses and a black suit. Might help with the biting insects.
Bill L I am really hoping you have seen this video already. If not you are going to laugh for sure. ua-cam.com/video/k_VdObC0ecA/v-deo.html
No I have not. I'll take a look!
Great information,Thank you for sharing
Yea tree oil works good too.
I was scratching and itching all the way through this lol
great video, thank you
Grew up in Maine. Know the blackfly. I knew this couple in Rumford or Mexico area....they got into some house swap deal with another family from Philadelphia. The day the Pennsylvanians arrived, my friends mentioned that blackfly season was about to start......"What are blackflies?" they replied
LOL. I bet they know now.
@@EconoChallenge It's good to know that you're still around in 2022.