Mosquitoes: Wisconsin's State Bird

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This week's itchy pitch:

• The lowdown on mosquitoes 🦟 

• Walleyes in hot water 🐟

• Update on Wisconsin State Parks ⛺️

Mosquitoes: Wisconsin's unofficial state bird

We all know this scenario too well.

You're laying in your tent after couple-two-tree beers at the fire when suddenly, you hear something.

Is that the world's smallest violin, or ...

A mosquito. In the tent. Someone committed the cardinal sin of leaving the door open, and now you're bound for a sleepless, itchy night. Sigh.

To please the gods in hopes of a pesk-free Memorial Weekend, we're diving into mosquitoes this week (as well as sacrificing a Bears fan to the local mosquito horde. Sorry Jim).

'Scons 'Squitos:

• Mosquitoes live an average of 8 - 10 days

• Travel no more than half a football field during their lifetime

• Require stagnant water to lay eggs

The skinny on skeeters

As if one wasn't enough, Wisconsin is home to 56 species of mosquitoes. Some prefer to bite humans, while others go after birds, deer or amphibians. And then there's your poor sister Sarah, who always seems to get massacred...

The reason they bite is fairly straight forward - they need our blood. Specifically, to grow eggs. Which is why only female mosquitoes bite.

When they stick those long, needle-like stingers into us, they deposit a wee bit of saliva, which our bodies react to, causing itching, burning sensations. In some cases, they can spread disease, but it's pretty rare for us livin' up nort' in the midwest.

They can be found all over the state, but need areas where standing water is nearby to lay eggs. In about 10 days, the mosquito can go from egg -> larvae -> pupa -> adult. Then, it's off to bite your ankles.

Water sources include: ponds, tree stumps, potholes, birdbaths, plants, tires, buckets, etc. After a good rainfall, you can expect to see more mosquitoes.

Like the Morel Mushroom, mosquitoes start appearing when temps start hitting 50 degrees. Thus, a cooler spring can delay the onset of the mosquito hordes. Ah, a silver lining.

Vital vermin

While we've all wished that mosquitoes never existed ("you mean I don't have to wear two pairs of socks???"), they're pretty important to the ecosystem. Of course they are...

Mosquitoes are a staple food group for local fauna, specifically birds, ducks, bats, tadpoles, turtles, fish, etc.

And as it goes with all animals, in the great big food web, they rely on each other for survival.

In fact, where mosquito larvae are controlled, birds of that area seem to have a reduced protein intake, which can affect their own respective reproduction.

Droughts, heavy rainfalls, climate change... they can all have an affect on the mosquito and larvae.

How to live in harmony

It's like living with your college roommate from Illinois. You don't need to love 'em, but you do need to tolerate 'em.

So whether you're trekking around your favorite state park or grilling in the backyard, here's a few tactics to avoid the itch:

• Look for wind (or create some with a box fan): Unlike a football thrown by Brett Favre, mosquitoes can't fly very well in the wind. 6-10 mph will do.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks and shoes

• Apply repellant: Use a spray-on DEET or check out this list of repellants from the EPA.

• Stay indoors during peak hours: Wisconsin mosquitos are most active around dusk and dawn.

• Stay active: A moving target is harder to hit!

• Build a bat house: A little brown bat can eat as many 1,000 mosquitoes in a 24-hour period.

• Eliminate standing water: Old tires, A/C units, puddles, buckets - it doesn't take much.

There ya have it folks! With these tips, you can get outside without getting getting eaten alive.

Now get out 'der!

🌟 Hey Wiscampsonites - we're working hard to build the community here (as well as keep the squirrels out of the attic), and want to hear from ya!

What'd you do last weekend? What're you doing this weekend? Tweet, DM, or email us, and we'll share your adventures with the community so we can all get out 'der! 😍 

Hipcamp find of the week ⛺️

Due East of Viroqua on the Bad Axe River in the one and only Driftless Area you'll find the Bad Axe Tent Camp.

Our pal Jim said "This place is a real hidden gem. Gorgeous, private, great fishing right from camp, and a babbling river and songbirds to wake up to. Ran into some deer flies and gnats, but surprisingly few mosquitoes, especially around camp. I'd go back in a heartbeat."

Nuts 'n' Seeds 🌰 

⛺️ Listen: Wisconsin's Public Radio recently dove into the rise in popularity of state parks since COVID-19 and what to expect for visitors/upcoming projects. V excited for any bathroom/pit toilet updates.

🎣 Free Fishing Weekend: If you forgot to buy a fishing license (or simply spent all your money on beer), you're in luck - the DNR is hosting Free Fishing Weekend June 4-5 for all Wisconsin waters. No license or stamps required. Fire up the fryer.

🐟 A cry for Walleye: Warmer water temps may feel good for those May swim sessions, but the Walleye are really taking it hard. Despite fingerlings being stocked at 2x rates since 2013, the population has been in decline for the past two decades.

Well, how'd we do this week?

• 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀 Like brats at a tailgate - perfection

• 🧀🧀🧀 Nearly there, but you forgot the sauerkraut

• 🧀 What's this? Hot dogs?