This is the time of summer that "duck itch" makes its appearance known; however, there have been practically no ducks in sight.
Loons may be down in numbers some, mergansers too this season, but the number of
mallards are almost nothing. Does this gibe with the experiences of others on the lake?
Decades ago, duck itch cases were unknown—even at summer camp, and we seldom saw mallards back then. Is it that there are fewer tourists feeding ducks this year?
In sizzling weather, it's my "cooling-off" practice to put a chair in the lake in two feet of water. Last summer, while in my chair, I got struck by three nasty stings from something
while immersed! 
The round, itchy welts persisted for about ten days, just like duck itch.
Today, I have a floating chair
that will take me into deeper water and—hopefully—far from any bites.
