BeeAware… an Unexpected Encounter on the North Mills River
On a recent fishing trip to North Carolina, a friend and I were hiking back after a long day on the North Mills River. We had hiked in about two miles and were making our way back, with about half a mile and two more river crossings to go.
Suddenly, we were ambushed by a swarm of yellow jackets!
Without warning, dozens of them attacked, stinging me through my shirt sleeves on both arms and across my upper back. They got into my hair, stinging my scalp and neck, and crawled down the back and up the sleeves of my shirt.
RUN!!
Screaming, swatting, and desperately trying to brush them off, we took off running, abandoning our fishing equipment. We finally found a place to get into the river, where we sat in the water, dipping our arms and soaking our hair to eradicate the remaining nasty little s**ts!
Yellow jackets are wasps, not bees. Unlike honeybees, which sting only once, yellow jackets can sting repeatedly. They often nest underground, around tree roots, or in hollowed-out logs. In fact, I had spotted a nest the day before and carefully steered clear of it.
But this attack came as a complete surprise! We weren't wandering off trail. We were walking along the main path, about six feet wide, minding our own business.
The next day, I faced an eight-plus-hour drive home with both arms feeling like they were on fire! The Benadryl stick and Advil hadn't even taken the edge off. I stopped at Walmart for some oral Benadryl, hoping it wouldn't make me too drowsy to drive. The pharmacist's advice? "Drink a lot of caffeine!" He agreed that yellow jackets were a particularly nasty lot, especially when they managed to get underneath your clothes. It was all I could do to keep driving without constantly touching my arms, neck, and scalp.
When I finally made it home, I slathered calamine lotion all over my arms while my husband helped with the places on my back I couldn't reach. After a very restless night, the next day was no better. Large red blotches covered the areas where I'd been stung. By the third day, things were even worse. As the burning finally began to subside, the relentless itching took over.
I applied calamine lotion several times a day and took Benadryl, hoping for some relief. After about a week, the swelling finally went down, revealing dozens of tiny red pinpricks scattered across my hands, arms, and back. And, they still itched! It took nearly two full weeks before I finally felt normal again. So, fellow anglers, beeware! Whether you're on the trail or off, pay attention to your surroundings, especially this time of year. Yellow jackets can be particularly aggressive in late summer and fall, and you may never see the nest before it's too late.
This experience reinforced why I always wear waders and long sleeves, regardless of the weather. Although they didn't prevent every sting, I hate to think how much worse it might have been without them! It might be worth adding a cold pack and an antihistamine to your fishing supplies. Know what to do if someone has difficulty breathing, throat swelling, faintness, or other signs of a severe allergic reaction. They need immediate emergency care!
There are plenty of challenges we expect when fly fishing—slippery rocks, tangled lines, and elusive trout. Being chased down the trail by an angry swarm of yellow jackets should definitely not be one of them!
Tight lines, stay safe, and BEEWARE
