A warmer spring could mean an earlier mosquito season for Baker County
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, April 19th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – Mosquitos, like any warm weather pest, are an annual annoyance, but generally one that abides by seasonal trends. When trends change, however, unfortunately so do the pests. A warmer spring in the Baker Valley region could mean an earlier mosquito season, and an accelerated spread of West Nile Virus laden mosquitoes.
To be clear, warmer trends do not guarantee more mosquitos for the region, though there is a risk. According to Baker Valley Vector Control District (BVVCD) manager Matthew Hutchinson, much of the Baker Valley’s mosquito population coincides with the start of irrigation from local farmers and ranchers. While recent rains and warmer temperatures can increase the mosquito population, a large amount of the normal mosquito sources are still dry. Nonetheless, recent weather means there is a possibility of some increased mosquito activity compared to usual, according to BVVCD.
In addition, the warmer temperatures may also influence the arrival of West Nile Virus ladened mosquitoes. Typically, species capable of transmitting West Nile Virus (Culex Tarsalis & Culex Pipiens) don’t arrive in larger amounts until around early July, with bugs testing positive for West Nile generally not happening until later July.
However, if warmer spring trends continue, there is a possibility of an earlier than normal arrival for West Nile activity. To clarify, it is still too early in the season for BVVCD to know for certain what the mosquito numbers or West Nile Activity will look like. Currently, the threat of West Nile Virus in the Baker Valley District is low, but recent weather trends mean that there is a chance of both earlier mosquito activity and earlier West Nile flare-ups. Time will tell how exactly the mosquito population will develop this year, but residents should be mindful of potential early mosquitos.
