Picking a duck call, how fast can a whitetail run and an epic JPT member adventure in this month's newsletter

Protecting yourself with long sleeve clothing and mosquito repellant is important when you are outdoors in the summertime. Nature has some predators that help control mosquito populations. You may see bats swooping around at night, and swallows are aggressive in their ability to control insects. Some research shows that a single dragonfly can consume a hundreds of mosquitoes in a day.
It's hard, but you really should not scratch mosquito bites. According to the Center For Disease Control, here is how to treat a bite:

Use an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to help relieve itching. Follow the product label directions.

Summer Hiking in Yosemite National Park - California
On a summer family vacation JPT members, Casen Johnson, 11, and Ray Johnson, 10, of Lexington, OH decided to take things to the next level. After getting wilderness permits they backpacked with their parents a total of 32 miles in just 4 days. They completed the Ten lakes Basin trail first where they caught and released rainbow trout. This trail maxed at 9600 ft of elevation. The next trail was Big Oak Flat road which totaled 18 miles. On this hike they camped on top of the world famous El Capitan, which is where the photo is taken. This trail topped out at 7700 ft of elevation. The two were the only kids on either trail!

Toxic Algae Blooms:
As summer rolls on and temperatures climb - conditions become ideal for lakes and especially ponds to produce algae blooms, some of which can be dangerous for both humans and pets.
Not all blooms are toxic to humans and animals, but there is no way to tell by just looking at them. Pets are at higher risk as they ingest more water when swimming, and swallowing blue-green algae can make dogs sick or kill them. Think about if you toss a stick into the water for your dog to retrieve. They would jump right in. If they had exposure to toxic algae, some symptoms they might experience include vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, seizures and even death.
You can become sick if you swallow, have skin contact with, or breathe in airborne water droplets while swimming, boating, or tubing in water that has harmful. If you become sick, symptoms you might experience include vomiting, diarrhea, rash, eye irritation, cough, sore throat, and headache. You would likely have these symptoms within a few hours to 2 days after exposure.