When I was doing field work up (snorkeling) in the prairie pothole wetlands
of South Dakota last year, there was about a two-week period when every inch
of my body that was exposed (which wasn't much - basically, the back of my
wrists and part of my face) would quickly be covered with leeches. I always
had to check my face carefully before I packed up and headed back into town.
You get funny looks when you walk into a Burger King with "mask face" and a
leech on your forehead.
Mike Bessert
on 7/26/02 12:21 PM, Bruce Stallsmith at fundulus_at_hotmail.com wrote:
> Many leeches have some kind of host preference, but most are still attracted
> to any endotherm at hand. Maybe I've lead a charmed life to date, I've never
> been had by leeches... but I've done a lot of work in salt marshes and
> highland streams both of which are light on leeches, and I've worn waders
> for much pond research as protection against broken glass rather than
> leeches.
>
> My big phobia here in the southern bend of the Tennessee Valley is water
> moccasins... now THAT'S a PROBLEM! But I'm out with Steven Ellis a lot, who
> has taken to always packing a machete. Alright!
>
> --Bruce Stallsmith
> Huntsville, AL, US of A
>
>> Bruce, I'm not sure what "primary target" means, but the leeches in the
>> creeks I frequent must be opportunists. Anyone who spends time in the
>> water, especially in places with vegetation, will end up with leeches.
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