The Truth About Moving to Idaho What Nobody Tells You
Idaho is pretty dang awesome. The scenery is unreal, the lifestyle is slower, and there is a lot to love.
But there are also some big cons that people do not think about before relocating and if you do not know about them ahead of time, you may seriously regret your move.
So let’s talk honestly about what life in Idaho is really like from the perspective of someone( Myself) who was born and raised in the Boise Idaho area.
This is not meant to scare anyone away. It is meant to help you decide whether Idaho truly fits your lifestyle.
Bugs In Idaho The Creepy Crawly Reality
A lot of people might think that since Idaho is so far North and has the cold weather and winters that bugs can't survive up here...
That couldn't be further from the truth... They just get Bigger
Wasps
Wasps are everywhere in the Boise area and in Idaho in general. They like to build nests in every nook and cranny.
Under decks
Inside fences
In barbecue grills
Under patio chairs
Up under the eaves of homes
If you spend time outside, you will probably get stung at some point. Pretty much everyone does. I get stung every single year just doing yard work.
A few tips that actually help:
Look for nests regularly and knock them down early and Keep a can of wasp spray handy, the best way to go about it is to grab the bulk pack of cans
Some people swear dryer sheets help keep them away, my grandparents used to have us tuck dryer sheets all around the porch at their place growing up.
There are several different types of Wasps and hornets here but the paper wasps are the ones you'll likely run into the most.
They are annoying, but they are a part of living here.
Spiders
Yes, we have them. Black widows and brown recluse spiders are the main ones that can cause issues, the good thing about them however is that they are very rarely indoors. Growing up here in Idaho I can count the amount of Black Widows I've seen just about on one hand( Don't want to think about the ones I didn't see....)
The most common places where you'll find them are going to be dark, cool, and quiet areas.
So, Crawl Spaces under homes, under the Deck of a home, around the foundation of a house ( especially near hose spigots so you have to be careful there) and in garages.
The only time I've ever seen a black widow inside a house was when I was helping with a renovation on a home, we pulled the stove out and the spider was underneath it.
However, they rarely show up inside houses and regular pest control treatments usually keep them under control.
Mosquitoes
Did you know that Mosquitoes are the #1 killer of people world wide?
People hear city of trees and think that Boise Idaho is this Lush green oasis and it is.... Where we water it.
When Settler's first came to Boise it looked a lot more like this
Boise is high desert so, by and large, most places around here aren't exactly bounding with mosquitoes. We are extremely lucky however to have a lot of water sources like the Boise River, The Snake River, and Lake Lowell to name a few.
Which means, where there's smoke, there's fire
If I stand in the river fly fishing, I get eaten alive. If I stand in my backyard, I barely get bitten.
Last year I only accumulated 1 mosquito bite the entire year ( I might be a bad gauge for this...)
It really depends on location, for instance, Emmett has the largest problem with mosquitos. I had a great interview with the President of the Gem County Mosquito Abatement district to learn more about the mosquito issue, which you can find on my YouTube Channel ( Moving to Idaho ) .
Ticks
If you spend time outdoors, especially in tall grass or near riverbanks, you will see ticks and we definitely have them here in Idaho. I find them on me all the time when I am out exploring during the summer and spring.
At the moment they are more of a nuisance than a danger because we don't have any documented cases of Lyme disease or "Lone Star Tick" that can make you allergic to red meat.... Not being able to enjoy a ribeye sounds worse than death to me
Idaho was however, the first state where Rocky Mountain spotted fever was noted.
I'd say the ticks are more of an issue for dogs especially if you are out in a rural area where they are running through tall weeds or along brush lines. If you are in the city and going to parks and dog parks you won't see an issue.
Whenever I take my dogs up to the mountains to go camping during the summer I stop and grab a flea and tick collar to help ward off ticks.
The Strange Idaho Bug Seasons
Idaho also gets weird bug booms.
Two in particular.
Mormon Crickets
99% of the time, when I ask someone if they know what a Mormon Cricket is they have no Idea.
However, just because people don't know about them doesn't mean they aren't here. Because they are... By the millions. They get so thick on the roads that it actually becomes a hazard because the road becomes so slick with them that cars will actually slide off the road. It is the wildest experience to see this. Imagine driving over bubble Wrap.
It looks insane, and the smell is not pleasant at all, but they are harmless. And I'll let you in on a little secret.... they make great fishing bait.
Snakes In Idaho
One would think that with the cold winters we have up here that snakes wouldn't really be a thing, except they are. We have several different types of snakes and most of them aren't problematic at all unless you are a mouse. We've got corn snakes, Bull snakes and Garter snakes but the one you really need to watch out for is the Rattle Snakes.
The thing that I'm most uneasy with about rattle snakes isn't necessarily about being bit myself but my dog. I like to do a lot of upland bird hunting with my dog in the mountains in southern Idaho and I love it, however I will absolutely not even consider taking my dog out until temperatures get cold enough that snakes won't be an issue
There are rattle snake avoidance classes that you can take your dog to so that they can stay safe while out having fun
Big Wildlife And Idaho Predators
Over 60 percent of the land in idaho is rugged undeveloped land. We have the Frank Church Wilderness, Yellow Stone, Hells Canyon and a ton more.Wild Land in turn means wild animals. Deer, Elk, Bison, pronghorn, moose and..... All the things that call those critters dinner. Grizzlies, Black Bears, Wolves, Mountain Lions, Coyotes.
Most of these you'll probably never come across if you don't leave the city limits, however on occasion we do have the odd bear or moose make their way into town. Like this Black bear who wandered into Boise a few years back.
Credit to IDFG for the photo
Depending on where you like to recreate in the outdoors in Idaho really changes what animals you'll run into and what precautions you have to take. Mountain Lions are probably the most prevalent here in the state and you're most likely to run into them. I've had my fair share of run ins with them but the instance that takes the cake is when I had a big Tom stalking me for a couple days and tried to get into my tent while I was sleeping.
If you go further towards eastern Idaho, where grizzlies are common you definitely have to take a lot more care. This isn't just something that I'm writing to scare you either. Every single year there are grizzly attacks in Eastern Idaho which can turn deadly real fast. There were a couple young hunters out a couple years ago that got attacked by a grizzly that had been terrorizing ranchers for several years. The boys shot the 530 grizzly 24 times while being mauled by the bear. These things are no joke and can turn a normal day into a nightmare real fast.
A bit of a controversial issue in Idaho is regarding the wolves. If you ask any hunter in Idaho about the wolves you are likely to get the same answer that the reintroduction was a terrible idea. As of right now, there haven't been any human dangers from wolves, however as their continually expanding range grows it's only a matter of time before there are conflicts. Many don't know this about wolves but they absolutely hate any other dogs. That could be coyotes, foxes or even fido.
As I've watched the population grow it has been a pretty consistent pattern, No wolves and occasional coyotes, then the coyotes show up everywhere as they are being hunted down by wolves, then the coyotes disappear and whatever sign they left is replaced by wolves. I am hesitant to even take my dogs into the mountains anymore because of the potential for them to become a target to a wolf. Many don't actually realize how big a wolf is. Many think they are like a Labrador or a German shepherd, except they are much much larger than that. This is a pack that I had come across while I was out elk hunting this year
Most of the time you will not see them unless you go deep outdoors. If you recreate in the mountains, you need to understand how to be safe and prepared.
So, Is Idaho Right for You?
Did I scare you away or make you want to move here even faster?
If you'd like to watch the video that inspired this blog you can find it HERE or Check out all the other videos on my YouTube Channel Moving To Idaho
Idaho is wild, beautiful, challenging, and unique. It is not for everyone, but the people who love it truly love it.
If you are thinking about moving to Idaho, I would love to help walk you through it and make sure you choose the right area for your lifestyle.
I am Isaac Crace with Top Idaho Real Estate.
Your third generation Idaho Realtor.
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