In addition to Lyme disease, ticks can transmit numerous other diseases.  The first symptom of these diseases is usually changes to the skin.  So, it’s normal to be freaked out

Because I live in Serbia, I don’t always have a lot of options for backpacking gear (most brands won’t ship here!).  So, while I was able to find bear spray,

There are hundreds of species of ticks and at least 90 of them can be found in the United States.  Luckily, not all of types of ticks transmit Lyme disease. 

Lyme disease can cause some nasty long term damage if it isn’t treated quickly, so it’s really important to take any early symptoms of Lyme disease seriously.  The most notorious

You’ve armed yourself with a canister of bear spray.  You’ll be safe if you have an encounter with a bear, right? A lot of people – including experienced hikers and

Going into bear country and looking for an alternative to bear spray?  Here’s what you need to know about when it’s okay to use a bear spray alternative and what

While your chances of getting attacked or killed by a bear are incredibly low, that doesn’t mean the risk doesn’t exist.  Bears are becoming more habituated to humans, meaning that

Whenever going camping in bear country – regardless of whether it is grizzly or black bears – you need to follow some basic safety rules. These rules help ensure that

Of all the bloodsucking parasites, leeches are probably my least favorite.  You’ve got to touch their weird slimy bodies to detach them and there’s usually a lot of blood involved.

Ticks love tall grasses, piles of leaves and thick brush.  If your campsite has any of these, then it’s likely there are ticks lurking.  Ticks can’t jump but they can