sclubb

Traveling with kids always has me have a few freak-out sessions about random issues - things I otherwise would have never really given the time of day prior to having kids. But, now, getting ready to head to Costa Rica next week, I am having a few freak-out mind games about all the talk I am seeing on the boards about fer-de-lances (or however you spell it...all I saw were photos of them and knew that was enough) and am remembering the tarantulas we saw on our last trip and the numbers of poisonous frogs around and who knows what else.

So, where should I fall on the relaxed versus overprotective slide for my three young kids - especially my 2 1/2 year old adventurous BOY who likes playing with sticks and running in the grass - as well as my 3 1/2 year old daughter who is more timid and finally my 8 month old daughter who likes to munch on leaves and whatever else she can get her hands on. Am I crazy to even be giving this fear a place in my mind? I mean, I KNOW there are all sorts of things that abound...but in normal, everyday lilfe, we aren't likely to encounter too many of them, right?!? And, on nature hikes, we'll all be on the paths....but what's this I hear about ants running right up your foot and biting you?! I'm not trying to be the crazy lady who doesn't want to see a single gnat on a trip to the tropics...but I thought perhaps you could all reassure me that we're not likely to run into any hospital emergencies with one of my kids playing with a stick that turns out to be a fer-de-lance (again, however you spell it!).

I'm kind of joking and kind of not! Help!

shillmac

I hear you completely. Go with the relaxed angle. When we have our granddaughter with us, honestly, we've never even thought about the critter issue. We just don't think about it much. And something running up your leg and biting you? No. That would be a really freak thing.

Our experience this past summer with the fer de lance on the steps outside our cabina did bring things home to us, but only in the sense that it served as a reminder that you do need to keep an eye to the ground as you walk. We usually are very careful about that, but there on the hotel property, we had relaxed that habit a bit too much. Of course, in Costa Rica, you watch the ground pretty carefully anyway just to keep from tripping and falling!

What you need is not worry or fear, but just a heightened sense of awareness and watchfulness, not on the neurotic side, but just more aware than usual. Hope this helps a bit. The critters are there, you can't get around that, but there isn't any reason to worry about them.

qwovadis

Always wise to know about area critters

Risk pretty low for most depends on where precisely

you will be heading and what you will be doing...

Ants can and do run up and bite also occurs in the US

wear appropriate footgear and no problems.

Scorpions www.nicoyapeninsula.com/wildlife/scorpion.html

have gotten in my shoes in some areas

Always put my shoes on a closet shelf

Check before I put them on...

volcanogirl

I think you do need to be aware that these things are out there. Stay on the path, teach your kids to look before they walk, don't put their hands under logs or into a pile of leaves. Most of the critters like snakes don't want to be around you. In several trips to CR, we've only encountered one snake on our path, and luckily we were using our headlamps so we saw it. Always keep your luggage zipped up and like gwo said, check your shoes before you put them on. I got attacked by fire ants in my own backyard last weekend and have seen 4 snakes on our property even though we live in the burbs. I don't think you're being crazy at all; you do have to show a healthy respect for nature and the wildlife that's out there, but you don't have to be terrified - just keep an eye out.

RAC

with kids that young, I don't there is such a thing as overprotective, especially when you're outdoors. The big danger from snakes and other things like bullet ants is when people start putting their hands where they don't belong--exactly what kids tend to do. I wouldn't let kids play outside anywhere near where snakes could be hiding.