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Dina Freedman ReportingIf you go hiking around the Wasatch Front to get away from the heat, you definitely will find cooler temperatures, but you'll also find an abundance of biting flies.
The expert we talked to said she didn't really know why this year has been worse than other years, but it could just be that there's still a lot of water from snow melt or from recent rainfall.
Whether you're trying to escape from the heat or if you're just out for some exercise, the bugs will find you. Deer flies and horse flies are out in full force and this year and they are nasty.
Deer flies look like house flies, but can have stripes on them. The flies slice open your skin when they bite. Depending on the person, the bites can last for more than a couple of days.
Erin Hodgson, USU Entomologist: "Deer flies, horse flies, they have rasping spongy mouth parts so they have a scissor type mouth part that will actually cut your skin, as opposed to something like a mosquito which will have a stylet to pierce your skin. It brings up blood to the surface of the skin so then it's able to suck up blood."
The deer flies are attracted to things that are wet, shiny, warm and moving, which basically means you and your dog are prime targets for these little creatures.
Erin said what we've heard before, to use bug spray with Deet or you can try one of the new ones out there with an ingredient called Picardin. If you really don't want those flies near you, stay far away from water and get the standing water away from your home.
