How to Avoid Spider Bites While Hiking

Nothing can spoil a good hike faster than bites or stings from bothersome bugs. Certain spiders, in particular, can cause particular injury or pain. Although basic treatments will likely be available in your first aid kit, it is best if you can follow precautions and use common sense to keep from getting bitten at all. Although a spider isn't waiting to attack you, it will bite if it is startled or threatened.

Instructions

• 1

  Wear long pants and long sleeves to protect your exposed skin. Keep your shirt tucked in and tuck your pants into your socks if you will be walking through areas with dense undergrowth. Choose lightweight material if you will be hiking in the heat. Wearing light-colored clothes will help you and others spot any hitchhikers on your clothing.

• 2

  Sit or lean carefully. Check out any resting places, such as rocks and trees, for any obvious spider nests before you rest against anything.

• 3

  Use a stick to sweep in front of you to knock down any webs before proceeding through any thickly wooded areas or parts of the trail where the undergrowth on the sides is fairly close.

• 4

  Exercise caution or wear gloves before moving rocks or using any crevices as handholds. These are prime hiding spots for spiders.

• 5

  Shake out your shoes, socks, jackets or gloves before putting them back on if you have removed them to rest.