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Back to Chapter 5: Managing Risks Articles Preserving endangered night skies By Dan Duriscoe and Chadwick A. Moore Protecting American ginseng By Janet Rock Incident management team develops foot-and-mouth disease plans By Peter Dratch and Kris Fister An overview of invasive exotic plant management strategies in the Northeast By Kathleen Kodish Reeder Eradicating rats from Anacapa Island By Kate Faulkner, Gregg Howald, and Steve Ortega Other Developments Focus on toxic airborne pollutants Battling alien fish in Yellowstone Lake Award-winner Profile - Hawaii Volcanoes resource manager honored |
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 Mosquito surveillance in the National Capital Region In 2001 the National Park Service stepped up efforts to monitor mosquitoes, carriers of West Nile Virus, in the nation’s capital. West Nile Virus can result in fatal swelling of the brain in humans and wildlife, and is a particular threat to wild birds, especially crows. During the year, the National Capital Region hired three biological science technicians to sample mosquitoes at parks in the region for viral analysis. Extended wet periods and the invasion of a mosquito species new to the area had likely led to an unprecedented number of public complaints about the biting pests in 2000 and 2001. These complaints and increasing concern over the spread of the virus led managers to establish the program. Surveillance was based on a regional West Nile Virus Management Plan, prepared with the help of Dr. Howard Ginsberg of the USGS Biological Resources Division at the University of Rhode Island and staff of the Natural Resource Program Center. The mosquito catch was greater at some of the developed collection sites, like the Old Stone House, than in natural areas. This may be due to the many small breeding sites, such as backed-up gutters, clogged storm drains, and dumped tires that are often found in the city, and the lack of natural checks and balances. Two mosquito genera in the region are known vectors of West Nile Virus: Culex and Aedes. The mosquito catch from field sampling was submitted to the Fort Meade Center for Public Health and Preventive Medicine for viral analysis. All results from the region were negative. The National Park Service is using the information in public education programs and will continue to monitor for the virus. |
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This material is from Natural Resource Year in Review--2001, published by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, in May 2001 (publication D-2255) /YearInReview/yir/yir2001/05_risks/05_od2_mosquito.html Last Updated: |