West Nile virus continues to be a threat. It causes flu-like symptoms. Swelling around the brain or spinal cord occurs with a serious form of West Nile Virus. With mosquito season already started in some parts of the country and approaching in other parts of the country, its time for mosquito management.
Gone are the days when children were told to come inside while trucks drove down the street fogging the neighborhood with pesticides to kill the mosquitoes. We now know that it not a healthy or environmentally safe way to deal with mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes spread disease in people and animals. Heart worms are commonly spread from dog to dog by mosquitoes. Malaria, Rift Fever, West Nile virus and other diseases can be spread among people by mosquito bites. Some diseases can even be spread from animals to humans from mosquito bites.
There are non-chemical ways to manage mosquitoes. Wearing protective clothing will protect from mosquito bites. Destroying mosquito breeding areas is a way to manage mosquitoes. It can be done by watering in the mornings so water will evaporate before mosquitoes use the drops of water for reproduction. Monitoring a yard and eliminating standing water will eliminate possible mosquito breeding areas. Keeping brush, weeds, and grass cut back also helps.
For ponds, water fountains, and even some birdbaths, mosquitoes can be managed the way this 4-H student in the video did when she initiated a mosquito controlling project in her town. She did it with minnows. The minnows love mosquito larvae and are happy to feed on them. An innovative man used this method after Hurricane Katrina. He went around to abandoned and neglected swimming pools and introduced the minnows to control the disease spreading pests.
