Băneasa Forest Hiking Safety Precautions – How to Protect Yourself from Ticks, Mosquitoes, and Other Creatures

900-hectare forest surrounds the Greenfield neighborhood., and walks and hikes through the forest can be all you need to relax. But as much as you love long forest walks, you hate unexpected „encounters” with mosquitoes, ticks, or perhaps even a wild boar! Sure, encountering a deer is wonderful and special, but it won't be the only one you might see in Băneasa Forest. It's best to be cautious and know what to do, no matter who you come across on your hike.

Mosquitoes - how to keep them away 

Tiny, fragile, and extremely annoying, mosquitoes make their appearance with the month of June. Over 50 species of mosquitoes are found in our country, and it is the females that feed on the blood of humans and other mammals. Following a mosquito bite, red marks remain on the skin that swell and cause itching (these are more or less pronounced, depending on each person's sensitivity).

Because they feed on blood from multiple individuals, mosquitoes can transmit many diseases. The good news is that such cases are rare in Romania. This doesn't mean they are any less annoying.

What to do if you still want to go for a walk in the forest, but you don't want to be devoured by mosquitoes? 

- avoid wearing bright colors,

– avoid overly bright lighting,

– use products that keep mosquitoes away (Autan, Repelent are some effective products from the varied selection available).

Here's what else you can do to keep mosquitoes away from your home: 

– avoid overly bright lighting,

install screens on the home's windows,

– avoid containers that collect rainwater (mosquitoes breed in any place where water collects),

– don't keep inflatable pools with water in them near the house.,

– maintain the green space clean (grass mowed, shrubs trimmed, and trees pruned),

- use a fan on the terrace (mosquitoes dislike the wind because it makes flying difficult and disorients them),

– keep flowers on the terrace that repel mosquitoes, such as lavender, geraniums, marigolds, basil, or rosemary.

Tick bites  

With the arrival of warm weather and outdoor outings, you might encounter a tick bite.

What do you do if you are bitten by a tick?

You can remove a tick with tweezers, but only if you can grip it from the top to pull out its head. WARNING: do not grab it by the body! You risk the blood inside getting into your body.

Ideally, however, you should contact a doctor or the emergency department of the nearest hospital.

The doctor can also recommend antibiotic treatment for borrelia infection (Lyme disease).

Not every tick carries disease; only those with the virus do. Only in 5 out of 100 cases is a person infected with Lyme disease. Usually, the disease manifests in the first month after the bite, with headaches, fever, or chills. What should you do if you have these symptoms? See a doctor immediately.

What do you do when a wild boar attacks you in Baneasa Forest?

Located in Sector 1, although quite close to the urban conglomerate of Bucharest, Greenfield is embraced by nature, and its 900 hectares of Wild Forest are the perfect home for wild animals. You have a chance to see roe deer and stags, and they will delight your eyes for a few seconds before disappearing among the trees, long before you even manage to pull out your phone to take a picture. What do you do, however, if you encounter a wild boar?

In most cases, the advice is the same: don't move, don't provoke the animal, back away slowly, don't make sudden movements, and stay as calm as possible (animals can sense your fear).

No matter how trivial it may seem, sometimes an animal might rush at you because you're blocking its path. In that case, you just need to get out of the way.

However, wild boars have moments when they can attack violently. Specifically, how do you react if a wild boar attacks you?

The defense instinct can lead you to react in ways that are wildly inappropriate, so it doesn't hurt to be informed and react according to the situation.

Try to figure out why it's attacking you: it has young and thinks someone is trying to kidnap them, it's cornered and injured, and the human is nearby, so it considers you an enemy; if it has no other escape route, in this situation the attack is short, a flight, and the animal will continue on its way without returning.

If a wild boar appears on your trail, don't forget the tips above: stay calm, retreat slowly, and don't make sudden movements that might attract its attention. In most cases, it will continue on its way peacefully, without attacking you.

If you have the option to grab onto some branches and hang there until it leaves, that might be a solution.

Quite common on forest paths, snakes do not attack but usually avoid people. Most bites happen when the animal is provoked or surprised.

What can you do to get rid of snakes? Make a lot of noise, watch where you're going, and tap the grass or leaves on the path with a stick in your direction before taking a step. If you are bitten, do not panic or run. On the contrary, your heart rate will increase, blood circulation will accelerate, and the venom will enter the bloodstream faster.

Don't suck out the venom, and don't act irresponsibly. All you can do is go to the hospital as quickly as possible. It's preferable to wash the bite with cold water and apply a bandage somewhat above the wound.

However, prevention is best. Properly equipped with hiking boots and pants made of dense, stiff fabric, you can be protected from such unpleasant occurrences.

Keep the above in mind, and any walk, whether through Băneasa Forest or on mountain trails, can be a pleasure. However, don't forget to respect nature and the animals that live in it. You are now in their home, and you must be a polite guest.