BOISE -- Officials with Ada County Weed, Pest and Mosquito Abatement say they're trapping an alarming number of mosquitoes throughout the Treasure Valley.
"At this point, what's happening is that we're just not keeping up," said Director Brian Wilbur.
Thursday night, Wilbur's crew used a large plane to spray insecticide along the Boise River from Star to Eagle, and in Boise around Barber Park.
"We use a half an ounce to cover an acre of ground," added Wilbur.
He told us the environmental impact is low. The chemical kills the mosquitoes, but breaks down quickly. It's also safe for people and pets.
But it's toxic for bees if it makes direct contact with them.
"I'm sure that a few bees are going to be killed by it," said Terry Fackrell. The beekeeper has six hives of honey bees on his property in Ada County. He estimates about 300,000 bees live there.
Fackrell doesn't live in the area where the county's plane will be spraying for mosquitoes, but says beekeepers that are shouldn't be too worried.
"It's toxic to them, but they have to be exposed to a certain amount before it's going to kill them," said Fackrell.
That's one reason abatement officials spray for mosquitoes after 8 o'clock at night. Fackrell added that most worker bees are already back in the hive by then.
"If you are concerned, you could cover your hives because they are doing it at night and your bees are going to be in there," he said.
Wilbur told us he's sensitive to the effects of this work. His crews are doing what they can to keep mosquito populations down, while protecting other species.
This season, he says, has been unpredictable.
"We often use larvicides that are in the storm runoff drains. That's a huge place where mosquitoes breed, and when you have the flood water we had last night it washed it all away. So that will open up another 20,000 sites that we have to go visit and retreat," said Wilbur.
Strong storms and the high temperatures we've been experiencing mean more work for abatement officials.
"This weather this year has just really kept mosquito abatement in a very active mode," added Wilbur.
Abatement officials in Ada County say it's hard to predict if more air attacks on mosquitoes will be needed this summer.
With the increase in mosquito populations recently, they say they're ready for anything.
If you're a beekeeper and would like to fill out a no-treatment request form with Ada County, click here.
