|
|
 |
Enjoy Fire Island Safely
|
|
Park biologist (mosquito technician) collects mosquitoes from a gravid trap on Fire Island to be sent out for testing. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Avoid Mosquitoes |
|
|
Mosquitoes are a part of the natural food chain on Fire Island. Dragonflies, birds, and bats eat adult mosquitoes, and small fish and diving beetles eat tiny mosquito larvae suspended just below the water's surface. Mosquitoes begin as tiny eggs deposited in wet areas such as ponds, marshes, mud flats, or outdoor containers such as old tires or buckets. You can eliminate mosquito breeding areas by eliminating anything that can collect rainwater.
Male mosquitoes eat only plant nectar which aids in pollination, but females need to eat blood to produce eggs. Mosquitoes generally seek rabbits and deer, but they may choose any warm-blooded animal including humans. they locate prey by detecting carbon dioxide which all animals, including humans, exhale when breathing.
Mosquitoes are known to transmit both Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV). Although several species of mosquitoes live at Fire Island, the risk of contracting EEE or WNV at the park is low. Fire Island National Seashore generally lacks the habitat where EEE and WNV-transmitting mosquitoes originate. However, to ensure the health and safety of residents, visitors and employees, the National Park Service has installed a monitoring program at Fire Island National Seashore to detect any incidence of EEE or WNV in the mosquito population.
For further information concerning West Nile Virus and other vector-borne diseases, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/. West Nile Virus tracking maps are maintained by U. S. Geological Survey at westnilemaps.usgs.gov.
Protect yourself by using insect repellent and follow the directions on the label carefully. Wear long sleeves, pants, and socks to keep mosquitoes away from your skin. Avoid being outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. |
For More Information
Back to Safety Tips |
|
|
