RECENT NEWS!

WEST NILE VIRUS – In past years, Pinal County has had a number of cases of human West Nile Virus (WNV). Since WNV is primarily carried through the bite of an infected mosquito, it's important not to provide mosquitos with an easy place for them to reproduce. Mosquitos have no difficulty in finding an old bucket or other water container lying around somewhere, and can produce thousands of larvae. Miscsellaneous objects which can collect and contain rainwater, should be repositioned or removed before the rainy season begins. Permanent fixtures such as birdbaths, fountains, pools, and rainwater collectors should be closely monitored, emptied often and treated if necessary, before they can become breeding areas for mosquitos. WNV is known to affect humans, horses, dogs, cats, bats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, and domestic rabbits. More information on WNV can be found at Wikipedia, a free on-line encyclopedia at www.wikipedia.org

RATTLESNAKES (Aug 4, 2008) – During a typical year we'll respond to about 100 rattlesnake calls. Here is a 5 foot long Western Diamond that we captured and released this afternoon. We want you to see how hard it can be to see a very large rattlesnake, even when you know it's right there. Western Diamondbacks blend in so well with their surroundings, that they are often extremely difficult to spot. Snakes will probably see you, long before you see them, and they will most often try to warn you to keep your distance, by coiling and rattling. Have you ever noticed how many people walk or jog with headphones playing music, or talking on their cellular phone? It's kind of a scary thought.

As the outdoor temperatures begin to get cooler, you're more likely to have snake encounters in the daytime hours. During the afternoon we seem to capture most snakes in shady places like under patios, garages, carports, or even underneath of parked vehicles. Early in the morning they seem to like sunny areas such as a concrete slab or a pathway. It's always a really good idea to look down before you (or your pets) step out of your front door. You never know what might be warming up. If necessary, call us and we'll gladly (at no charge) remove an unwanted snake from your (Oracle only) property. For those who didn't read Jay Smith's quote in a recent article in the Miner News, "the only thing worse than seeing a rattlesnake, is seeing one and then not seeing it." If at all possible, try to keep the snake in view while you're waiting for us to arrive, and please don't bother it. Whether indoors or outdoors, always be aware of your surroundings, and keep your ears open for that distinct sound.

Mosquito Fogging Scheduled for Several areas in Pinal County – Aug. 22, 2008 – Pinal County Environmental Health Services announced today that mosquito samples collected in the City of Eloy, Arizona City, south of the City of Coolidge, northwest of the Town of Florence and the Johnson Ranch area have tested positive for West Nile virus. This brings to twenty the total number of West Nile virus positive mosquito samples collected by Environmental Health in 2008. In response, Environmental Health will conduct adult mosquito fogging, weather permitting, beginning Sunday August 24th, 2008 through Tuesday August 26th, 2008 from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. in Eloy, Arizona City, Coolidge, Florence, and Johnson Ranch. For maps of the scheduled fogging areas, see www.pinalcounty.org/envhealth.

The pesticide that will be used during fogging is called Anvil. It is a pre-mixed, ready to use product that contains two active ingredients: Sumithrin (2%) and piperonyl butoxide (2%). Sumithrin is a man-made version of a natural pesticide found in chrysanthemum flowers. Piperonyl butoxide enhances the ability of Sumithrin to kill mosquitoes. Anvil is registered with the U.S. EPA and is effective against mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus. More information regarding mosquitos can be found at www.westnileaz.com