Insects & Arachnids

Most bites and stings are a defensive reaction, not an attack. Something got stepped on, sat on, or reached into — watch where your hands and feet go and most of this is avoidable.

Ticks

  • Prevention: treat clothing and gear with permethrin, tuck pants into socks, and stay to the center of the trail away from brush.
  • Check daily, including scalp, waistband, behind the knees and behind the ears. Shower within two hours of coming inside.
  • Removal: fine-tipped tweezers, grip as close to the skin as possible, pull straight up with steady pressure. Don't twist, crush, or use a match, nail polish or petroleum jelly.
  • Watch for: a rash (including but not limited to a bullseye pattern), fever, chills, or joint pain in the weeks after a bite — see a doctor and mention the tick exposure.

Bees, Wasps & Hornets

  • Prevention: avoid wearing bright florals or strong scents; move away calmly if you spot a nest, don't swat.
  • If stung: scrape the stinger out sideways with a card edge (don't squeeze it with tweezers, which can inject more venom); ice the area.
  • Anaphylaxis is the real danger: difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, hives spreading beyond the sting site, or dizziness. Use an epinephrine auto-injector if the person has one and call 911 immediately — this can escalate in minutes.

Spiders

  • Black widow: shiny black with a red hourglass marking. Bite causes intense muscle pain and cramping spreading from the site. Seek medical care — antivenom exists for severe cases.
  • Brown recluse: light brown with a dark violin-shaped marking. Bites can go unnoticed at first, then ulcerate over days. Seek medical care rather than waiting it out.
  • Prevention: shake out boots, gloves, and sleeping bags before use, especially after they've sat outside or in a garage/shed.

Scorpions

  • Most US species deliver a painful sting similar to a bee, with numbness or tingling — uncomfortable but rarely dangerous for a healthy adult.
  • Exception: the bark scorpion (desert Southwest) can cause more serious symptoms, especially in children and older adults — seek medical care for severe pain, numbness that spreads, or difficulty breathing.
  • Prevention: shake out shoes and clothing before putting them on in desert terrain, and check bedding when camping.

Mosquitoes

  • Prevention: DEET or picaridin repellent, long sleeves at dawn/dusk when they're most active, and eliminate standing water near camp.
  • Watch for: fever, rash, or joint pain in the days after a bite in areas with mosquito-borne illness — mention travel/exposure to a doctor.

What Not To Do

  • Don't cut and suck venom from a bite — it doesn't work and adds infection risk.
  • Don't apply a tight tourniquet for a bite or sting — it can cause more tissue damage than the bite itself.
  • Don't ignore a widening rash, spreading numbness, or any sign of an allergic reaction — these are reasons to get seen, not wait it out.

Relevant Months

See also: Wildlife, Bear Safety and Poisonous Plants & Foraging Hazards.