Hello all,

My wife and I have been seriously thinking of moving from the UK to Nova Scotia.
We visited Nova Scotia in winter and found the people there the nicest we had ever met, and really thought we would emigrate.
We figured that the we would enjoy the winter, long as it is, and that it would be counteracted by a good summer (compared to the UK).
However, I read more and more that we would be plagued with blackflies from May through June, and then the mosquitos would take over for the rest of the summer.
Also I read that deerflies (horseflies in England) are really bad as well.
This seems to mean that all summer would be dominated by biting insects.
Is this true? We are used to a lot of country walking in England and really enjoy it.
We were looking at Wolfville and surrounding areas, what would it be like bug-wise around there?
Are there any areas of the province that are relatively free of bugs (the coast for example?), or is it a fact of life in the province?
I would really, really appreciate any local knowledge.

Kindest regards,
John.

Ha ha ha. yeah I'd forgot all about the sly little b45tards.
Yes there are flies in NS, but no more than many other parts of North America/world.
You are mostly OK in town in the daytime.
Otherwise you chuck on some DEET. That works very well.

I play evening summer soccer next to a swamp in Sackville. That gets pretty tasty if you've forgot your repellant.

Is it possible to have a "Country Walk" in NS, its not really possible here on MB we don't have "Countryside", nor have the other bits of Canada I've been to.

The rural bits are either vast fields or vast forests.

You can hike in a Provincial Park but thats not really what I think of when "a country walk" is mentioned.

When we first arrived I was eaten alive for a couple of weeks. After that it wasn't so bad, they obviously perfer new meat.

You just get used to wearing bug spray all the time.

As for walks, there are alot of good trails around and for me nothing beats walking along the coastline.

You should visit in summer and see for yourself.

Come to Newfoundland. Equally as nice people, blackflies only for a month, cheap housing, lots of fog.

and fewer Brits

Thats changing..............

How sad.

That was a surprise. I thought I was going to see something along the lines of the North Shore being bug free.

LOL I wish

We were really bitten last year and even neighbours was saying how bad it was. Started taking B12 tablets as heard that should help keep them away, will give verdict next year

I would say unless you live in a city then biting insects are somewhat unavoidable. There are things you can do to prevent them. Avon bath oil works quite well (just oil yourself up before you go out) as does a near fatal dose of DEET

You get used to them though. And you cant have everything can you? Really friendly people, lots of snow in winter, hot summers, beautiful beaches, houses that are half the price of the UK, low crime etc and you want it to be bug free as well!?

The bugs arent that bad really. I discovered a bug repellent soap that was at Shopper's Drug Mart. I used it while at a summer camp in rural Pennsylvania, where the year before my husband and I had been EATEN ALIVE. Not a problem. Washed with the soup and we were good to go, and it smelled wonderful and left your skin soft. Look for it in the camping section of Shoppers Drug Mart

And good if you get peckish too. Just make sure there's some bread for dipping

hahah i meant soap

Sorry....couldn't resist.