RE: [Paddlewise] Objectionable Caribbean wildlife.

The scorpions I have encountered are the small white ones that have a wallop
like a hornet. Take what ever you would use for a sever bee, wasp or Hornet
sting. Watch out for sting rays, scorpion fish or stone fish in the shallows
(I'm not sure I have the family correct). Shuffle your feet and look before
you exit the boat. Place your paddle where you will be placing your feet. 

Fire coral is a potential problem however NEVER TOUCH ANY CORAL EVER! It is
the most fragile of life forms and a barrel sized head can be killed through
one misplaced foot or finger! If you get nailed with fire coral, you deserve
it!

Be careful of wearing any bright jewelry or nose clips..barracudas love
shiny things and ear lobes and fingers sometimes suffer. sea Lice are
probably not an issue this time of year, but they are the spawn of the
thimble jelly. They have poison ivy type symptoms and can last a couple of
weeks. If there is Sea Lice in the water, avoid bathing suits and dry before
bathing.

Ammonia is useful for neutralizing many of the jellyfish toxins. Heat
generally destroys most marine toxins, so treatment with very hot water will
help.

Don't forget those adorable fire ants! I'm not sure if they're in your
intended area of travel. Killer bees haven't arrived just yet!

Have fun. I wish I was going!



> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Richard
> Mitchell
> Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 1998 2:01 PM
> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Objectionable Carribean wildlife.
> 
> 
> We are off in ten days to the Caribbean for an extended trip in
> the southern Bahamas.  After a good bit of research we jettisoned
> the Exumas as too developed for our liking and changed
> destinations.  We will now take the mailboat to the southern
> extremity of the Jumentos 
> Cays and paddle from there -- starting just 80 nm north of
> Havana.  This is a much more remote area than the Exumas.  We
> need advice regarding hostile flora and fauna.  Specifically,
> what techniques are advisable for the recognition and avoidance
> of fire coral and jelly fish (whose toxins are related I
> understand), urchins, and poisonwood.  Also what species of
> scorpions are likely to be encountered in the area?  Any
> sculpturatus (sp?) scorpions likely to be about?  Any other
> additions to the list of plant and animal encounters to avoid?
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> RGM
> -- 
> Richard G. Mitchell, Jr.
> Department of Sociology
> Oregon State University
> Corvallis, OR 97331
> U.S.A.
> (541) 752-1323 phone/fax
> mitchelr_at_ucs.orst.edu
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