The controversy around mosquitoes in Winnipeg isn’t limited to the issue of fogging. There is also debate around what kind of repellent works best.
"It's so hard to go out, summer's so short and if you're being bit and slapping mosquitoes all the time you can't enjoy it," said Vera Koladubsky.
It used to be the only line of defense was dousing yourself with sprays or creams, but now there are other ways to keep the skeeters at bay.
One device uses a butane cartridge to heat up a a strip lined with flower-like oil, which wards off mosquitoes 4.5 metres away.
"You can apply it to your backpack or your belt, your lawn mower, whatever it is," said Hermann Schlegel from Cabella’s.
"It's a lot healthier that putting the Deet stuff on your skin. We've had customers complaining that their skin was peeling, so that won't happen with a thermasal device.”
It costs about $30 and it also comes in a lantern, for backyards.
The downside - each strip only lasts 12 hours. It's also a bit bulky for playing sports or taking to the beach.
The H-Man is another hi-tech mosquito detractor. "It draws them in, sucks them it to a basket down below and catches the mosquitoes,” said Eric Brekerman, sales manager, LCL Spas.
It sells for about $90 and uses a chemical that emits an octanal, or animal-like scent, that attracts mosquitoes.
"It caught 9,000 mosquitoes over a 10-day, 10-night period,” said Brekerman. “It outperformed another product by about 4,000 mosquitoes. So it's pretty impressive.”
Brekerman said the trap takes up to three-weeks to fully clear mosquitoes from an area, but then they're gone for good.
For more immediate protection in the great outdoors, $50 will buy a breathable bug jacket. Lower-cost alternatives like mosquito nets and hats also do the trick.
"These work really well as long as you have a hat on to keep the net away from your head,” said Dan Matchullis, sales rep, Mountain Equipment Co-op. “As long as it's not touching anything, it works pretty great."
