Editor's Tip

I love animals. So does the staff at Southern Living. In our Travel stories we bird-watch, we fish, we take nature walks, and we try to be mindful of natural habitats. There are some animals, though, that aren't so touchy-feely. Take the flying squirrel I surprised in Vicksburg, Mississippi, that mistook my hair for a nut sandwich. Love and compassion were not my first thoughts. Likewise, the giant buck I startled on the way to the "bathroom" one dark night on a campout didn't seem to appreciate my flashlight or my greeting of "AHHH!" Lessons learned? First, a lamp does not make a good weapon to combat flying squirrels, especially if the squirrel in question is on your head. Second, in the South we're blessed with a lot of critters, most of which mind their own beeswax. At some point, though, if you travel in this region you're likely to meet up with one of the creatures discussed below. Read these tips to be prepared. Good luck out there.

-MORGAN MURPHY

Follow our advice when you encounter critters on vacation.

Tip #1: Deer on the Road

Don't swerve. You'll be smoldering in a ditch or crunched up against a tree while Bambi scampers off in search of another garden to eat. Statistics show that each year deer cause approximately $1.1 billion in damage, much of which occurs when drivers swerve to avoid the animal. Hit the brakes, try to come to a stop, and wait for the deer to leave the roadway.

Tip #2: How To Repel Mosquitoes

Grandma's purple bug zapper can crackle and snap all it wants, but it won't stop you from getting bitten by a mosquito in her backyard. Only female mosquitoes bite. Zappers electrocute an estimated 350 billion beneficial insects each year, but sadly, just a mere 0.13% are female mosquitoes. You'd be better off to roll up this magazine and start swatting. What works? Repellents containing DEET ward off mosquitoes, biting flies, chiggers, fleas, and ticks. If you want a milder alternative, citronella, Skin So Soft, clothing coated in permethrin, and a product called Bite Blocker (a combination of soybean, geranium, and coconut oils) have also proven effective. Yet the best defense may still be cleaning sources of standing water at your home-a mosquito's best breeding ground. Empty backed-up gutters, birdbaths, and planters.

Tip #3: Snakes

Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Though the phrase is true, if I see a snake at my boot in the woods, I'm not going to stand around saying rhymes. My goal is to avoid snakes altogether, so I turned to a 40-year herpetologist, Bayou Bob, of the Rattlesnake Ranch in Santo, Texas, for advice. Bayou Bob says, "All snakes bite, all snakes have teeth." So when walking in a potential snake area (that's just about everyplace in the South but the mall), wear leather boots, make noise, take a leashed dog, and be cautious near water. If you should spot a snake, don't do anything to provoke the animal. Snakes are shy and defensive by nature. For more snake safety tips and snake first aid, visit Bayou Bob's Web site, www.the snakezone.com.

Have a suggestion for Travel Tips?

I Do you have a photo of a funny Southern sign? Know a savvy travel tip? Send them to me at Travel Editor, Southern Living, P.O. Box 523, Birmingham, AL 35201, or e-mail tips to morgan_murphy@timeinc.com. Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. For each item published you will receive $25.

SEARCHING FOR SHRIMP

You may remember Cassandra Vanhooser's fried chicken roundup last summer. We sent her to 70 fried chicken joints around the South to find the best. Well, this year she's doing shrimp and wants your advice. Send your favorite restaurants that serve the best fried shrimp to cassandra_vanhooser ©timeinc.com.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 2005
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