Four years ago, we moved with our family to our current home. We live in a large hunt camp not far from the Tantramar Marsh. The Tantramar Marsh is an important ecosystem at the north end of the Bay of Fundy, where New Brunswick meets Nova Scotia.

That first summer here, I heard one mosquito. I was standing on our undesignated dirt road very late in the evening. The mosquito never got to me. I heard a soft rustle of wings and then the buzzing was gone.

At night in the moonlight, you could see bats zipping around as you walked. If you stood still, they would whip right close by your head or even between your legs. They never caused us any bother.

Four years later we sleep under mosquito netting. There are still a few bats out there but they aren't making much of an impact. The buzzing of mosquitoes is a constant background sound all night every night. I have to slap at them periodically as I sit and compose at my keyboard. I sure do miss those bats.