Preventing Chiggers on this trip.. HOW???

[Running_Bell]

We've stayed at FW several times in different loops... last year Oct 2009, we stayed in loop 200 and by the end of the week we were miserable. We thought we had mosquitos or something. When we returned home... I did a great deal of research (on this board and other wildlife sites) and realized we had chiggers. It took us a week to seven dust the RV, wash all bedding, shoes... everything. Some items, as recommended by our Dr., we just tossed. We called FW about it... and they told us that they can come from the spanish moss and they usually spray for them. We've never had them in any other loop. This year we are returning in November... we will be in either loop 1500 or 2000 (we are tenting it). How can we prevent another chigger infestation? Anyone else had experience with this?

Thanks!!

 

[ftwildernessrick]

Never had a problem with chiggers at the Fort, but I always (no matter where I stay) spray around the outside of my camper as part of setting up. I usually use one of the sprays that attach to your water hose & spray the entire site (including trees & bushes) If I have to do a follow up, I also carry one of those pesticides like you use for your home. Also, my motorhome gets treated at the same time my house gets treated, under the same contract.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Never had a problem with chiggers at the Fort, but I always (no matter where I stay) spray around the outside of my camper as part of setting up. I usually use one of the sprays that attach to your water hose & spray the entire site (including trees & bushes) If I have to do a follow up, I also carry one of those pesticides like you use for your home. Also, my motorhome gets treated at the same time my house gets treated, under the same contract.

We use that stuff at home and it works great. I never thought about bringing it with. That's a great idea!

 

[Running_Bell]

What do you use? and should we be concerned with spraying near or having run-off (with rain) into the streams around FW?

Thanks,

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Next time request loop 3000,

 

[YodaGirl]

Never even thought about chiggers at the Fort.

I do have to add that I love that there is a Terminex add at the bottom of this page, though.

 

[des1954]

What the heck are you doing? Rolling around on the ground?

I've lived in Florida for 37 years, camped at the Fort probably more than anyone else on this board, camped in the Florida wilderness with and without tents, and camped in a number of Florida State parks, and NEVER, EVER have I had chiggers!! My DH (born and raised in Florida) used to hunt in the Everglades and up in the lighter pine forests in North Florida, and he's never had chiggers.

A lot of typical tourists figure on snagging some free Spanish Moss for craft purposes, and they always end up with chiggers (a.k.a. red bugs). You never mess with Spanish Moss without gloves and a can of Raid. That's one of the reasons you buy it at a craft store, because they treat it before packaging it. That's also where the saying, "never wipe with Spanish Moss" came from.

 

[becky1960]

In all the years that we have been going to the Fort we have never had Chiggers either. The last two trips Oct and Apr this year our site was sprayed by Disney while we were there. Is it possible that they were picked up on the way.

 

[kazlac4]

We were at site 215 last November and had no problem whatsoever with chiggers..actually, the only thing we saw lots of were armadillos at night walking through other sites!

 

[WDWFWfan]

Never had chiggers at the Fort, other places...yea. Insect repellent can help, but I can tell you the secret for killing the little rascals after they attach to your skin. Get some clear finger nail polish and apply over the affected area, it will suffocate the chigger.

 

[3gr8kids]

Instead of using nail polish, you may want to try an OTC hydrocortisone or antihistamine (Caladryl) cream. These not only stop the itching, but will prevent the areas from becoming infected. From my understanding, the nail polish doesn't actually kill the chiggers, it just seals the "bite" areas so they don't itch as much. My DS has been a victim of chiggers a couple of times on the backs of his knees, and Calamine lotion dabbed on with a cotton ball does the trick every time.

I found these articles that explain chiggers and their effects better than I can. HTH!!


http://pediatrics.about.com/od/dermatologytopics/a/06_chiggers.htm

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question488.htm

 

[WDWFWfan]

Instead of using nail polish, you may want to try an OTC hydrocortisone or antihistamine (Caladryl) cream. These not only stop the itching, but will prevent the areas from becoming infected. From my understanding, the nail polish doesn't actually kill the chiggers, it just seals the "bite" areas so they don't itch as much. My DS has been a victim of chiggers a couple of times on the backs of his knees, and Calamine lotion dabbed on with a cotton ball does the trick every time.

I found these articles that explain chiggers and their effects better than I can. HTH!!


http://pediatrics.about.com/od/dermatologytopics/a/06_chiggers.htm

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question488.htm

I'm sure that different people will have different success rates, but I tried hydro-cortisone cream for several days and never felt any relief. A dab of the finger nail polish and the itching was gone literally overnight. However, YMMV.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

For what it is worth, I camped at the Fort over the course of two weekends in October, 2009, and no chiggers for me either.

I have also been to the Fort plenty, and have never encountered chiggers.

I do know that the Fort imported a lot of pine straw in 2009 to spread around the loops after renovations. I wonder if maybe this was the source of the infestation the OP experienced on the 200 loop in October, 2009.

I think the good news that can be drawn from the posts responding to the OP is that whatever the OP experienced, it was an isolated occurrence, and is not likely to occur again.

Happy Camping.

TCD

 

[des1954]

I do know that the Fort imported a lot of pine straw in 2009 to spread around the loops after renovations. I wonder if maybe this was the source of the infestation the OP experienced on the 200 loop in October, 2009.

There's a possibility the OP could have thought they had chiggers, but in reality, it could have been allergic reactions to the pine straw. The pine straw that Disney spreads around the Fort is treated with fire retardant chemicals that, frankly, chiggers can't survive in.

I say they were trying to cop some free moss to utilize in a craft project. That's the only way their RV could have become infested.

 

[Running_Bell]

Nope... they were chiggers, we were treated at the physician when we got back home. I like the rolling around on the ground comment...that's pretty funny...but unfortunately no... none of that. I can't say why, however, if you go back to the original posts back in October of 2009 you will see my post and others stating that they had "mysterious" bites. I also searched other posts on this and other boards and they have mentioned chiggers. It could be the moss... we had a ton of spanish moss on a tree right above our site. I did call FW once we got back home and they did say they do have "red bugs" in the spanish moss... all over Florida. So... I'm not making it up

I think we will just treat the sand area with sevin dust upon arrival... I think that should do it. Like I said in the original post.... I had never experienced them before in any of the other visits.... so I'm hoping that it was just an isolated case. We'll take precautions though....

 

[Lightgician]

I camp at the Fort about 3 times a year. Never experienced a problem with chiggers. Live in South Florida and have no problem with them anywhere down here.

Are you sure he said, "chiggers"? Not "Tiggers", cause those things will bounce all over you.

 

[YodaGirl]

Are you sure he said, "chiggers"? Not "Tiggers", cause those things will bounce all over you.

 

[3gr8kids]

I don't think they spray for Tiggers

 

[Lil' Lisa]

I hope not!

 

[des1954]

I think we will just treat the sand area with sevin dust upon arrival... I think that should do it. Like I said in the original post.... I had never experienced them before in any of the other visits.... so I'm hoping that it was just an isolated case. We'll take precautions though....

If for no other reason, treating your site with sevin dust, or at least around your camper, will keep sugar ants at bay. If we are experiencing a drought in Florida at the time you will be camping, sugar ants are a very real possibility. In a drought/dry situation they seek water and will climb up your hoses & power cord in search of the water/food sources in your rig. We learned this from experience, both in our MH and in our home. Once you get a sugar ant infestation, they are next to impossible to get rid of without professional help.

The only thing I wish you would check before using sevin dust you bring from home is...is the strength/potency legal to use in Florida? Pesticides are tightly controlled here in Florida and the strength of chemicals sold to the everyday Joe are very weak due to overuse by people not properly trained to use them. The chemicals do leech into the water system and can cause a lot of problems in the lakes and rivers. Another powder you can use without causing any damage to the eco-system is powdered boric acid. You should be able to pick that up at any drug store. Here in Florida, you have to ask for it at the pharmacy counter.