JACKSON, Wyo. — Mosquito season begins as early as May in Wyoming, and humans aren’t the only ones feeling the sting. The team at Teton County Weed & Pest (TCWP) is tracking potential cases of mosquito-borne West Nile Virus (WNV) by studying dead birds in the area.
TCWP is requesting that the public visit its website to report dead bird sightings, as birds can be both victims and hosts of WNV. If a local comes upon a bird that has died from seemingly natural causes (not obviously car or animal-related, for instance), they are encouraged to fill out TCWP’s “Report Dead Bird” online form.
“WNV is a zoonotic disease, meaning animals are involved in the transmission cycle,” TCWP posted on Instagram. “In this case, birds are the hosts of the virus in the environment. Dead birds are often an early indicator of West Nile virus activity in an area. You can be a citizen scientist by helping our team to monitor virus activity and focus mosquito surveillance and control efforts.”
TCWP will collect a dead bird to see if it tests positive for WNV. The tests give an idea of the level of West Nile Virus activity in the county, and TCWP will then shift mosquito surveillance and control to areas where there are WNV-positive birds.
Criteria for the TCWP team to be able to perform testing:
- Only report birds that have died within 48 hours.
- Carcasses must be intact, not desiccated, and have no obvious signs of physical trauma.
- Carcasses must not be heavily infested with insects or insect larvae (insects cover less than 25% of body).
To report details and the location of a deceased bird, fill out this form on TCWP’s website.
See Buckrail‘s mosquito safety coverage for tips on avoiding bites this summer.
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