What do People use to Deter Leeches?

[oyster_07]

Pantyhose stockings.
Yes, get those nylons on guys!

[Franco]

Them little suckers get a lot of bad press but I find that after a little while they grow on you.

[ofuros]

Them little suckers get a lot of bad press but I find that after a little while they grow on you.

that little quip had orange juice coming out of my nose.....

[Franco]

I hope it was organic.

[Zone-5]

I don't smoke but the nicotine fluid (tobacco water) in e-cigarette refils works wonders on stopping leeches from crawling up into your clothing. I transfer it into a small bottle to carry around and spray on my clothes and pants. The smell of the tobacco is able to slow down the leech and ultimately intoxicate it. But it takes time so there’s no immediate effect.

[oyster_07]

The tobacco water method is an old jungle soldier's trick. It works pretty well.

[Kinsayder]

Snow, mostly. Works really well.

[jeza]

A few years ago I did a few walks in leech infested areas with minimal protection. I did spray on 20% DEET (Tropical Rid) around the opening of my socks and lower legs as an afterthought before departing the car. But they still got into my ankles, I'm guessing straight through my socks though it might also be possible that they can crawl over a small DEET covered area as long as they don't take a nibble. On another trip I smothered my feet and ankles with 80% DEET after being bitten on the first day and that didn't seem to stop the leeches on the second day... once they smell the blood! (although it's generally believed that they are more thermo-sensing, so maybe just figuratively speaking). After this it seemed there was no way to stop leeches. One thing I observed about these trips is that despite pulling off loads of leeches, I only had half a dozen bites on each foot. I suspect the leeches were able to share bite locations with other leeches. The blood oozing out from the anticoagulants no doubt attracts them to the exact same spot. I also think this create a much greater risk of infection and the bites I had were mega itchy and quite lumpy for a week or so afterwards.

I decided to up the anti when I returned to a known leech infested area on a wet day. I sprayed on 20% DEET before putting my socks on and possibly applied some 80% DEET as well. I didn't apply any to my upper body as all previous bites were around my ankles. I also wore some fairly tight fitting gaiters. On that walk I got zero bites on my ankles but got one bite on my forehead which was promptly removed and another on my chest which I didn't discover until I got home and had a shower. Neither of these bites caused me much irritation as the ones on my ankles. Others in the group had far more bites. I wasn't sure if the gaiters alone did the job or if it was the DEET; perhaps it was both. I've since heard about DEET melting sleeping bags, etc. So I think I'll stick 20% if using at all if that's possible.

Another possible tactic (in Victoria at least) is to go walking in the summer months when it's dry. I've been on walks that seemed totally leech infested in wet spring conditions and had none in the dry (Yarra Ranges and Gippsland). That said the rain forests aren't as pretty when it's dry and I really love the smell and sights of walking in the rain. Also to avoid getting leeches on the upper body it helps to avoid brushing against trees/branches and fern fronds if possible (it often isn't).

On the weekend I did 3.5km walk in the Otways. This time I forgot to bring the DEET though I had gaiters. I didn't see many leeches on my legs, but my girlfriend was attracting them like a magnet. One theory I had was that she was wearing synthetic boots which probably release more heat than my leather boots. I think I pulled off about two to four leeches that reached my pants. At the end, neither of us had been bitten but my girlfriend found a few tiny ones inside her gaiters (possibly weren't adjusted tight enough) and I found one inside one of mine and one outside the other. On longer walks these may have resulted in a successful bite, though generally these leeches were found below the boot line. I'm thinking gaiters might be the best thing since sliced bread now.