Horse Owners Urged to Control Mosquito Populations

West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick is warning horse owners in that state to control mosquito populations around the barn to minimize their animals’ chances of contracting West Nile virus.
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West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick is warning horse owners in that state to control mosquito populations around the barn to minimize their animals' chances of contracting West Nile virus (WNV).

“Many insects, including mosquitoes, are likely to become active with the early warm weather we’ve experienced,” said Helmick. “The most important thing farmers can do is to eliminate standing water around barns and other places where animals gather and mosquitoes breed. Eliminating old tires or poorly draining areas can go a long way toward protecting your horses.”

Mosquitoes breed only in standing water, so drying out potential mosquito nurseries is critical to keeping their population in check.

He said that acting now—before vegetation becomes too thick—can make it easier to spot potential problem areas and correct them before mosquito populations explode. He also recommended that owners contact their veterinarians about having their horses vaccinated against WNV

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