Just how bad are the mosquitos in the Rockies in late June? When we travel to places like Greece, where they can be a problem, we usually only need insect repellant only in the evening, is this the case in the Rockies, or would we need to use it all day?

Also in Greece, we normally have a little plug in device with liquid or a tablet to keet the nasty creature out of the bedroom. Are these normally provided, available or necessary over there?

Thanks again, Maria

There are indeed mosquitoes in the Canadian Rockies, at least in summer.

I don't know if it's my imagination, but the mosquitoes seem worse than usual in Calgary this month. If that is anything to go by, I expect they will be quite bad in the mountains this summer as well.

They are at their worst in the evenings, but that is the time of day during which the weather usually cools off and you in any case feel the need to put on extra layers -- socks, if you're not already wearing them, and a sweater (jumper) or a fleece jacket. Covering yourself up with clothing helps to some extent. But of course your face, neck and hands are still exposed, so you need repellant when you walk outside.

Although the mosquitoes are at their worst in the evenings, you could encounter situations when you might like to wear repellant even during the day.

My husband uses a repellant that has DEET in it, but I won't touch the stuff with a ten-foot barge pole. I use a non-toxic citronella liquid that I bought at a health food store in Calgary. I've been using it this season, and it has been totally effective in keeping mosquitoes away from me during our evening walks.

Most buildings in this part of Canada have screens on the windows. Even the home accommodation in which we used to stay in Jasper had screens on its windows. (I say we used to stay there, because the couple who ran the place have retired. So we'll be trying a new place next time we go to Jasper.)

I have never seen one of those plug-in devices in a hotel in the Canadian Rockies. But then, as I said, we've always had screens on the windows in our mountain accommodation, so I guess the plug-in things haven't been necessary.

Just in case you too prefer non-toxic repellant, I've identified some places that sell the stuff in the mountains:

BANFF

Clock Tower Mall Currency Exchange, 108 Banff Ave

Goro Canyon Smoke & Gift, Banff Park Lodge

Gourlay's Pharamacy, 229 Bear St.

Keller Foods, 122 Bear St.

Keller Foods, Banff Springs Conference Centre

PetroCanada Station, 302 Lynx St.

Standish Home Hardware, 223 Bear St.

The Bear and The Butterfly, 214 Banff Avenue

Weeds and Seeds, 110-220 Bear St. Mall

CANMORE

Huckleberry Holistic Inc., 101, 722 - 8 St.

Nutter's Bulk and Natural Foods, 900 Railway Ave.

LAKE LOUISE

PetroCanada Station, 100 Village Rd.

JASPER

There may be places that sell non-toxic mosquito repellant in Jasper townsite, but my Internet research so far has not managed to identify them.

Thank you Judy, you are most helpful

Maria, we were an year ago in Rockies from june 19. We had No mosquitos at all! We ahd with us repellant, but we never used it!
From other posts, I understood that the insects time is later, in July and August.

Have a great trip!

I have travel to the Orient to purchase a popular non toxic mosquito repellent named AntiMos and use in Canada.

It is very effective and long lasting, "21 days said the label"

I like to have convenience and non toxic solution, without the need to burn, spray, electricity, refill, and such... I use AntiMos - the non toxic mosquito repellent.

try going to their website:
antimosonline.com

Betw, I am a constant traveller, and going to the jungle for hiking and trekking is my favorite. DEET solution is good for 312 minutes for skin application at this point of time. 5 hours protection against skeeters.

But Antimos give me effective protection for more than 10 days.
It works especially well indoors.

Catnip solution and soya bean repellent solution are also good non toxic alternatives against the DEET solution.

Yes there are mosquitoes in the Rockies. The past few years have been dry - there was a drought - and this dried up the standing water where mosquitoes usually breed. This year is shaping up to be much wetter (so far)so I expect that there will be more mosquitoes over the summer (and they are already here - end of May). Mosquitoes usually hang around until the first frost in September, so bring your repellant.