Madison County Winning Mosquito Battle

The warm weather and heavy spring rain have created more breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and it has our counties taking a stand against the pesky bugs.

If you’re swatting at mosquitoes more frequently this year, you’re one of many annoyed by the little pests, and the season is far from over.

Brett Burnside with Madison County Mosquito Abatement and his ten-man team have been spraying for mosquitoes on the ground and in the water since early spring. The pests are still hatching and growing from larva to pupa and then to the adult bugs that bite you.

Burnside said his team has sprayed so much for mosquitoes, that the numbers he’s catching in his traps are fewer than ever.

“That has actually allowed us to kill the mosquitoes before they hatch,” said Burnside.

Spray isn’t the only trick they’re pulling out to control the itchy insects from hatching in high water.

Burnside said a new machine called an Argo has helped his crews deal with the new breeding grounds. It can access places they couldn’t reach before.

The Argo can travel through any slough or swamp-like stretch of land.

Burnside said it’s been a life saver this year.

“It doesn’t sit here very often. It’s always out,” said Burnside.

Madison County is also implementing a new idea to control mosquitoes by purchasing blue gill fish to stock in private ponds.

The fish eat mosquitoes and can significantly reduce their numbers in a single season.

“We’ve controlled it and our mosquitoes are down this year from what they were last year,” said Burnside.

Burnside said each county catches and tests mosquitoes randomly for the West Nile Virus. He hasn’t found any infected ones yet.

In Bingham County, Emergency Management director Craig Rowland said aerial sprays have made a huge difference with their mosquito issues.