Only 60 days till lift off so its getting down to the nitty gritty..For those who have been there previously...can you give us all some wisdom on the best mosquito/black fly solution? We have read both that they are not a problem or they are a terrible nuisance. Is there a preferred insect barrier that works above all others? do Thermocell units work? Is it a combination of things that you'll need to do? Do foggers work while in camp? Bear spray.... Are their certain kinds can't be brought across Canadian border? seems like I read that. It is doubtful we will be venturing for walks in the deep back country, but we do plan on fishing so there is a chance for an encounter. What is the recommended bear spray for both legality and effectiveness.

Which province will be crossing into Canada? Reason why I ask is if you cross Alberta and in the Banff area you can legally buy Bear spray and not pepper spray, keep the receipt to prove you bought it Alberta and go on your way.

To answer both questions, the quick cheap, environmentally safe way to deal with mosquitos and black files is wind. Just get a desk fan that rotates and setup in front of where you are sitting outside, put it on high and let it blow the bugs away. In areas where the bugs are bad and in the spring grab Muskoil, but get the liquid not the aerosol.Re Bear spray, it is legal to own, buy and bring into Canada. But its use and possession is controlled. It must be clearly labeled as Bear Spray and contain Capsaicin. In Canada our weapons laws are much more restrictive, so keep in mind the following:1) declare it when you cross into Canada2) do not carry on your person in places where bears are not a threat ie the mall3) do not conceal it when carrying it and identify that you are carrying it when questioned by police or park rangers4) NEVER use it (even in self defense) against another person (I know that argument again). Canada does not have the same self defense laws and even if the use saves your life you will likely be dealing with an Assault with a Weapon charge (like a Felony up here). That's OK though, there are far more bears then Gang Bangers up here anyway :)

Bear spray is available at any of the leading Canadian or Alaska sporting goods shops. The size seems to be the issue, has too be a size too large to be easily concealed. It also needs a bear photo on the can and labeled as bear spray. Most are approx the size of a Coke can. Places that sell bear spray will most often have the belt holsters to carry it where you can access it. You don't want it in your backpack or in your fishing tackle bag or box. All reports that I have read claim the bear spray is the best protection against bears that get too close but leave the area after using it as the residual smell remaining seems to attract bears. Bugs, after living in rural Alaska for 25+ years, for me, nothing beats high concentration DEET sprays or lotions. The brand isn't to important, just find one you can stand the smell of after a few days. Be careful around fishing gear or hunting gear as high DEET will damage stuff like lines, gun finishes, sunglasses etc. I tried a pair of the Thermacell devices and didn't care for them. Too expensive to operate and only worked in absolute calm air. I was sitting at a campground at Tetsa River Regional a few years back, the same year I bought the Thermacell units. I had it running on the table where I was, when I noticed a mosquito land on it to check it out. Off also makes a similar device but is cheaper and heats using battery power instead of the fuel cells used by Thermacell. My SIL had one of the Off devices that same trip and liked it but she is not a bug magnet like I am. LOL both of these devices work by heating a replaceable chemically treated small mat causing it to give off repellent fumes. Every few hours you replace the mat and heating source. For young kids we liked Off brand wet wipes. I usually have some Cutters, Ben's and when available Army surplus Jungle Juice. Bugs are dependent on location. Stay at the more urban campgrounds and seldom will you have a problem. We stayed at Rivers Edge in Fairbanks for a week last trip and I believe I saw two mosquitoes. I always carry a head net, cotton gloves, long sleeve shirts and duck tape sometimes to be able to sleep at night in a tent or leanto when in the bugs are thick.

Very interesting about Canadian law. Are you saying in Canada you are not allowed to defend yourself against an attacker? Just have to accept attack and file a report?

Re. insects, we all have different chemistry. My chemistry does best with Off liquid. All Aerosol stuff is way too expensive for quantity of protection.& you can get yourself a net jacket. This is what I have http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/store/tools/clothing/bugjacket:)

Remdies for Bugs & Bears | Good Sam Community

PA12DRVR
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
SkipStock wrote:
100% Deet and a .45-70..................

100% Deet makes you taste bad to the bears and the muzzle blast from the 45-70 keeps the skeeters away

:-)

:) :)
SkipStock
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
100% Deet and a .45-70..................

100% Deet makes you taste bad to the bears and the muzzle blast from the 45-70 keeps the skeeters away

:-)
okgc
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
midnightsadie wrote:
we,ve used skin so soft ,a avon product with good success. spray your cloths to. only bear thing I have is a 357.mag .

The 357 might work on your Ohio bears but you cant take to Canada
Tee_Jay
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
Too funny Sue. I was going to cook burgers for a large group on Elmenfdorf near Anchorage and had the fire in the large grill started and preps underway. In walked 3 good sized black bears. I had a large metal spoon and a metal trash can lid, but lacked a crazy lady screaming. Still, it took a while but it worked and they stayed gone.

In the years in Alaska i have never had bear spray or a firearm, except during hunting season.
sue_t
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
It's the small cans of spray, the ones you can easily conceal, that will get you into trouble at the border. If you have a big can that is clearly labelled "BEAR" spray, then there will likely be no problem. However, if it is a small can labelled for personal protection, then you may have to hand it over at the border.

We don't carry bear spray anywhere here. That stuff can harm the humans using it if the wind is blowing wrong. The bear needs to get too close for it to be effective too. Instead, we have "bear bangers" here at the cabin. When ejected towards the bear, these tend so scoot them off in the other direction. Smaller to carry too. Although, banging pots & pans while screaming like a crazy lady also works well, and I'm speaking from experience. :B
EEWally
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
We crossed into Canada 3 times on our trip last year and told the crossing guards that we had 2 big cans of bear spray. Who wants a small can of bear spray!? They didn't want to look at it when phrased that way.
Johndeere4955
Explorer
Apr 12, 2015
lonnie4801 wrote:
Swat the bugs; don't swat the bears.

On one of our crossings, and there have been many, one of the customs officers asked my what I was going to do about protection against bears since I had told him I didn't have any bear spray. My answer, "stay away from them".

I agree with your logic on bears...just stay away. Don't be like those idiotic tourists that feel the need to get off the tour busses or rental cars and see how close they can get a bear or worse yet...feed it food. And you don't need to go very far in the back woods to find wildlife in Canada. Be careful around your campground in the parks as there always wildlife roaming the campgrounds.

Welcome to Canada!
GaryKH
Explorer
Mar 25, 2015
Be careful if you use permetherin. It is very toxic to fish & cats!
PA12DRVR
Explorer
Mar 25, 2015
lonnie4801 wrote:
Swat the bugs; don't swat the bears.

On one of our crossings, and there have been many, one of the customs officers asked my what I was going to do about protection against bears since I had told him I didn't have any bear spray. My answer, "stay away from them".

...and therein lies some wisdom that is often absent from discussions about bears.

On my trips, I use Bens.....as I get older, my tolerance for the smell/feel/general ambience of Ben's is becoming limited, so I also carry several varieties of headnet. For a long trip, I slather the Ben's for a couple of days, decide the smell and stickiness is bad, put on a headnet for a couple of days, decide that they are a PITA, go back to Bens, and so forth....
lonnie4801
Explorer
Mar 25, 2015
Swat the bugs; don't swat the bears.

On one of our crossings, and there have been many, one of the customs officers asked my what I was going to do about protection against bears since I had told him I didn't have any bear spray. My answer, "stay away from them".

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