Aren’t there lots of snakes and bugs where you are? I’m originally from Seattle (YES...it’s been ruined by the lefties, and Oregon too). But, I just cannot abide snakes and bad bugs....we’re looking at Idaho.
Bugs and snakes. Yep.
In fact, I describe the area this way: It’s the garden of Eden, but with more chiggers.
The bugs ARE an issue. One of the locals once said to me, “I went to Seattle once, I was a pike place and went to the park next door. I couldn’t believe it. People were just laying in the grass.”
I told him, “yeah. That’s because there are no bugs in the grass there.”
And one day I was under the hood of my 4x4 truck, with my head just abouve the strut mount, and something moved under my chin. It was a huge snake, six inches from my head. I jumped back. It was just a cow snake. Think of it as a five foot long garden snake. Harmless, but big.
But I’ve discovered permathrin. It’s an insecticide you spray on your clothing that lasts for about 20 washings and is dirt cheap. When I work in the grass/woods, I put bug repellent on my exposed skin, and wear permathrin treated clothing. Any bug that touches the clothing dies, and the repellent keeps them off my skin.
It’s all just a matter of getting used to the particular issues where you live. Idaho is awesome, though winters can be brutal. Same with Montana.