What do People use to Deter Leeches?

[Nuts]

I walked for about 6 hours on Friday, on a warm day after a lot of rain. Without gaiters (I couldn't find them). There were a LOT of leeches around.

I used nothing.

Only two or three really got attached, but didn't get much blood out of me before I removed them by scraping or pulling them off. I flicked off or picked off about 20 that weren't really attached yet (possibly as many as 30, but I wasn't counting). I lived. No problem. No chemicals, no nothing.

They sure liked my bare legs though.

Everyone else in the group had gaiters. They got fewer leeches on them, but got a LOT more blood sucked out of them than I did (big, fat, full leeches), because they couldn't see them.

I can relate to this.. never bothered using anything. I wear long pants usually, dont bother with gaiters, tukem socks in sometimes if its leeachy or muddy.. This way I dont need to bend down, just a check around the waist is easy (maybe im lazy lol...) I use some spray for mossies at night if they are really bad and annoying sometimes.

People go to some trouble dont they... If they are attached just roll them under a finger, they let go..

I treated someone with the leech behind an eye. Pretty gorry dripping blood but an eye cup and salt water and it popped straight out.

Last edited by Nuts on Tue 15 Feb, 2011 10:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[corvus]

We have perfectly good products to deal with insects/leeches (and dare I say sore bums) both prevention and itch ease but some folks just like to reinvent the wheel
corvus

[johnw]

I make an effort to use DEET (Bushman) if leeches are expected but do get caught out every now and then. I have a mild allergic reaction to their bites with extreme itching and some painful local swelling that can go on for days; itch can persist for weeks. I've found that OTC antihistamines can help enormously. I got several bites on the weekend, one right in the crevice between two toes and in a similar position between index and middle finger (I didn't even notice the little blighter there!). I took a Polaramine last night and most of the itching and swelling has already gone. Antihistamines can make you sleepy so best not to drive or operate machinery etc if affected.

[Macca81]

I just worked out A-P is anti perspirant

im pleased you posted this, cause in the 3 times i have visited this topic since the above was posted, i could not work out what a-p meant...

[rogo]

I just worked out A-P is anti perspirant

im pleased you posted this, cause in the 3 times i have visited this topic since the above was posted, i could not work out what a-p meant...

ok I was typing this in a dark room without my glasses and a-p was easier to write than the full word with spelling mistakes
And I was was sober. Maybe that was my problem.

[Joe]

I just worked out A-P is anti perspirant

im pleased you posted this, cause in the 3 times i have visited this topic since the above was posted, i could not work out what a-p meant...

ok I was typing this in a dark room without my glasses and a-p was easier to write than the full word with spelling mistakes
And I was was sober. Maybe that was my problem.

http://acronympolice.org/index.html - 'nuff said.

[Son of a Beach]

(I've just renamed this topic to distinguish it to the other more general Leech discussion topic).

[tasadam]

I know this topic is just to discuss what people use to "deter" leeches, but for leech removal you can have a look through these topics...
I also use Bushmans DEET 80%
On the legs under the socks, right around the waist area and down as low as you dare, around the neck & ears, hands and up the arms a bit - all the access points.
Just be careful to keep the DEET away from your, um, er, "sack". It burns

[north-north-west]

Walk alone, and don't hang around in the muddy spots.

Only leech I saw was a rather flattened specimen on the seat of my goretex pants after coming down from Drys.

[Blister]

Not sure about deterents as i dont bother but a good way to remove them is by rolling them inside out. My father passed onto me to gently roll them back and forth as if rolling a cigarette and this breaks there suction, then you flick them off.
You can also get out your hip flask, take a few gulps, give them a few minutes and you can notice them in a drunken stagger and they fall of you .

[ILUVSWTAS]

You can also get out your hip flask, take a few gulps, give them a few minutes and you can notice them in a drunken stagger and they fall of you .

Is that for real??

[stepbystep]

You can also get out your hip flask, take a few gulps, give them a few minutes and you can notice them in a drunken stagger and they fall of you .

Is that for real??

Same theory as giving garlic to dogs, fleas can't stand it - we've never had a flea on any of our dogs over 18 years!
Mind you boulder hopping might become a touch tricky after a few swigs

Best way to avoid leeches is to keep moving and walk first in line, stir 'em up for those behind

[nomadic]

I wonder if carrying a spray bottle of salt-water and occasionally spraying onto limbs would work? If applying salt to remove leaches brings them off, why not apply it pre-emptively? Just make that water as salty as humanly possible.

[phan_TOM]

I tried to 'keep moving' on a long damp walk yesterday and back at the car I picked off 17 'attached' leeches, yes, 17! and the itching has only just begun...
I think using one of the more environmentally friendly products that can be found in a few key areas such as around the top of boots etc and regular checks
is the best way to go. I did neither yesterday & here is a sample of what I copped...

Attachments

let the itching begin

[Blister]

You can also get out your hip flask, take a few gulps, give them a few minutes and you can notice them in a drunken stagger and they fall of you .

Is that for real??

My first comment about breaking the suction is real but i guess the second one i would have to use that [jj] tag now

Mind you like step by step said about the garlic , there could be method in it.

[corvus]

We keep reading about what to use as Leech deterrent and see pics of leech bites so why is there an aversion to Bushman 80% Deet which really works ? you only need a very small amount believe me as I used to suffer Leech bites for around a month after a bite and now they do not "leech" on thanks to this product
corvus

[ILUVSWTAS]

so why is there an aversion to Bushman
corvus

My guess is the warnings about pregnant ladies, or people with dodgy nedical historys should not use this product. Surely that cant be good for you.......... i'll take the leeches thanks!!

[corvus]

so why is there an aversion to Bushman
corvus

My guess is the warnings about pregnant ladies, or people with dodgy nedical historys should not use this product. Surely that cant be good for you.......... i'll take the leeches thanks!!

ILSWT are you getting your warnings from somewhere else ??
My tube reads ,
"WARNING : may be dangerous ,particularly to children,if you use large amounts on the skin ,clothes or bedding or on a large area of the body,especially if you keep using it for a long time"
Fortunatly I do not have a dodgy medical history (whatever that is) nor am I likely to get pregnant so I guess it it safe for only old farts like me who suffer from leech bites and wish to avoid them
corvus

[ILUVSWTAS]

Just hear alot of bad things about it. From some who should know.

If nothing has killed you yet, your probably safe

(Just Joking)

Anyway if your happy using it then continue, im quite sure with all the toxins in it it would be very effective at keeping living things away from you.....

[walkinTas]

Don't guess, read;

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/ ... fects.html

[ILUVSWTAS]

Don't guess, read;

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/ ... fects.html

Thanks WT.

Scary stuff, I certainly wouldnt suggest to ANYONE to risk using it.

[corvus]

Don't guess, read;

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/ ... fects.html

Thanks WT.

Scary stuff, I certainly wouldnt suggest to ANYONE to risk using it.

Like I have said before always two sides to a story (I personally am sceptical of those emanating from USA) however to each their own and if you want to suffer from leech bite who am I to question ?? I do like to do my own research however and tend to believe Australian results so this, albeit old may help

http://www.bushman-repellent.com/pdf/army.pdf
corvus

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yep I agree Corvus, agree that there's no way to agree on this...

Some will take leech bites, some will take the cancer and risk of death to avoid the leech bites. It's totally up to the individual to do whichever they prefer/feel is right for them.

An Army report?? Im not sure i'd trust that too much....

Is this the same army who tells us there's no problem with sexual harrassment among them??

(Just Joking)

[walkinTas]

Looks scary ILuv, but the conclusion is that "normal use of DEET does not present a health concern to the general U.S. population." The biggest dangers come from inadvertently spraying it in your eyes (so don't spray your face) and inhaling the spray. The third concern was leaving the spray on your skin for long periods of time (8 hrs or longer), particularly the Antecubital fossa (inside the elbow). So don't spray your skin directly, and don't breath in the spray when you use it. The guidelines page probably summaries it best.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yeh I understand that, I just dont see how using anything that you have to be careful on where it touches, how much you use or how often you use cannot be harmful???

Seems perfectly logical to me.

[walkinTas]

I take it you don't drink alcohol then.

[ILUVSWTAS]

I rarely enjoy a bevvie or 3.

Everyone has their poisons. It's limiting your daily intake of poison that helps. Whether it be Alcohol (which I rate worse and more harmful than alot of illegal drugs) deodorant/shampoo, Deet or whatever... Less is best!!

Im gonna Edit this to add processed foods to the above list of evils.

[gayet]

Less is best!!

No one denies that, but some of us have to use something to avoid severe (in my mind anyway) reactions to all sorts of things - 1 chemical that can negate another organic compound perhaps. I react badly to insect bites (ants, bees, wasps, hornets.... ) and some plants, and bushfire smoke and ash, and common chemicals (sulphur) and metals as well as various common medications, all very common reactions, but debilitating and painful and rather unpleasant at best. So if there is something out there that will limit the reaction to a known issue, or perhaps may limit the reaction when the bite hasn't been experienced yet - in the case of leeches I have escaped so far - then let the afflicted use it responsibly for their own benefit, without assuming they are ignorant of the risks or whatever.

[corvus]

Another test result
http://www.bloop.com.au/arebuzzwipessafe.pdf
May be of help despite being US based
corvus

[casey]

Just home after an abandoned hike with my 10 year old. Walked about an hour and had to turn back as not prepared for these suckers. Metho kills them and also found that they don't get through the gore tex in shoes (pitty neither of us were wearing them).