By Mike Roche

Among the living things that irritate folks in New England, the black fly/black gnat is close to the top of the list for many of us.

With the arrival of spring weather, we head outside to get involved with outdoor activities. Those range from yardwork to fishing, but each puts us in contact with black flies, also known as buffalo gnats. They are small, robust flies that are notorious for their biting habits. They get their name because they are hump-backed and resemble buffaloes in that regard.

They are typically found near running water, as their larvae require this habitat for development. They are small in size and thrive in clear running water environments. The population swells in early spring from April through June and they hatch in swarms that are attracted to CO2. That means that every time we exhale, we are attracting the little buggers, and their bite is irritating and often produces swelling. My personal experience has found bites around my eyes to result in semi-closing of the eye.

They suck blood as a necessary part of their reproduction process. The female black fly needs to suck blood from an animal or human to complete the reproduction cycle. Black gnat bites can cause itchiness and pain for many days.

If you are experiencing minor black fly bite symptoms, here are different ways to treat them. Wash the area with mild soap and water. This cleans the area and lowers the irritation. Do not use a towel roughly on the area after washing it, so you avoid making your symptoms worse. A cold compress can reduce swelling and irritation following a black fly bite. Put the cold compress on your skin for 10 minutes a few times a day. Do not put ice directly on your skin. Instead, make a cold compress out of ice in a plastic bag or a cloth soaked in icy water. If you have irritation and itchiness at the site of the bite, you can use over-the-counter antihistamines to treat the allergic reactions. You can also apply an anti-itch cream to the area to relieve itchiness and redness.

There are a few things you can do to reduce the chance of black fly bites. Avoid infested areas, especially during dusk and the early morning during summer and spring, since black flies are most active at these times. Gnats are weak fliers, so using fans can keep them away. Cover your skin properly by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Wear shirts with zippers rather than buttons, since buttoned shirts have spaces that allow black flies to enter.

Wear light-colored “earth-toned” clothes, since black flies are attracted to dark colors, particularly blue. Best of all, wear a head net and light gloves when going to an area with a large population of black flies. Many who fish in the northern reaches of Canada, where trout fishing during hatches of insects like black flies can be spectacular, often wear surgical gloves. Others swear by garlic and eat it before heading out, as respiration of the garlic seems to repel them.

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Since black flies can drive you out of the woods during the spring turkey season, this writer has become a huge fan of Thermacell products. They have developed a complete line of products which use a fuel cell and emit repellent fumes made from natural products, and they really work well! The MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller keeps both mosquitoes and black flies away. Even when turkey hunting with a head mask and gloves, black flies find a way to get to you and they have bitten my ears through the meshing!

Black flies were not an issue during my trip to Kansas last week to visit my sister Pat. The turkey hunting did not result in my bagging a gobbler. It is obvious that when these April trips to the Sunflower State first began, it was the “Golden Age” of turkey hunting in Kansas and across the midwest. It seemed like turkeys were everywhere and on the large agricultural properties, where most of my hunting time was spent, turkeys were abundant.

One particular morning there were at least 12 different birds gobbling that could be heard from my position. Granted, the open character of those large fields did allow sound to carry a great distance but that was a lot of gobblers! With those large numbers of gobblers there was a greater number of hens and the challenge of competing with so many real hens was a challenge. Over time, the population, not only in Kansas but across the midwest and also in the southeast, has sharply declined. Last year, Kansas addressed that issue by eliminating fall turkey hunting and limiting non-resident permits equal to 25% of the corresponding harvest by lottery and my name was not drawn.

Things also changed dramatically this year when a huge property where my sister and other members of the Leavenworth Hunt, who rode horses following hunting hounds, held their “fox hunts,” was sold after the owner passed. The nearly 4,000 acres went for $10.2 million! That was where most of my effort had been focused and a number of gobblers taken. It is now closed to hunting by the new owner.

Both my hunting experience and observations made in driving around during my time there seemed to show that turkey numbers are still down. There were birds around but not nearly as many observations as in previous years. Admittedly, my passion and drive to kill a tom is not what it once was, and the value now is more being out and hearing gobbles and observing wildlife. There was plenty of that as deer, coyotes, rabbits, eagles and waterfowl were part of the scene regularly. As always, visiting and catching up with old friends and spending time with Pat, her husband Jim Wolf, Wonder Dog Willow, her horse McGwire and the cats was fun. Our dining experiences were outstanding as was our annual trip to Cabela’s. That trip provided fodder for a future column when yours truly finally bought a pair of quality Costa sunglasses after years of research on high-end eye-wear.

Monday is the Massachusetts turkey opener. Hunters, remember to follow all safety rules, particularly the Ten Commandments of turkey hunting safety. Don’t stalk and be sure of your target! Good luck and remember “It’s the gobble and not the gobbler that makes the hunt special” as National Wild Turkey Federation president Rob Keck once said.

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.