Prepared by:

FIIS Mosquito Action Plan Committee

(Deputy Superintendent)

(Superintendent)

Fire Island is a 32-mile long barrier beach approximately 1-5 miles south of Long Island. Fire Island National Seashore (FIIS) is located in the middle 26 miles of the island. The park has concurrent jurisdiction with New York State that encompasses 1,000 feet into the Atlantic Ocean and 4,000 feet into the Great South Bay including the islands adjacent to the bay shoreline. There are 17 communities within the boundaries of the park, 13 of which are within the West District. There are approximately 4,100 homes on Fire Island all within the park's boundary, including two incorporated villages, which have their own governing bodies. Of the 4,100 homes, approximately 350-500 of the residences are year round. Visitation on a peak season weekend day can be as high as 100,000 within the park areas and the communities combined.

Fire Island National Seashore has the responsibility to preserve the park natural resources. It is a responsibility of the park to monitor park mosquito populations, manage park natural processes, and assist in the protection of visitor and resident health. In 1985, based on research on mosquito dispersal, the park determined that the impact of mosquitoes in the federal wilderness area was minimal on nearby Long Island south shore communities.

In the late 1990's public concern relating to Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus, both diseases related to mosquito populations, prompted the park to initiate mosquito monitoring. To further limit the possibility of a major incident and to ensure a quick and rational response should a mosquito-borne disease be found in this area, the park has developed the following Mosquito Action Plan (MAP).

During this stage the park receives low to moderate visitation and mosquito activity is dormant to low. The primary goal of this stage is to prepare for the season ahead.

1. All Stage Three Incident (see below) Caches should be checked to ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) is maintained or replaced from the previous year. Those employees that are incidental responders in the field will have access to Tyvek tick suits, head nets, gloves and insect repellant at each ranger station in the park (William Floyd Estate, Smith Point, Watch Hill, Sailor’s Haven, Lighthouse). These items are stored in locked, weather-resistant caches at each station. Caches will be checked and restocked as necessary. See Appendix D for equipment cache information.

2. All dead bird transport coolers (see below) should be checked to ensure that the equipment and protocols are maintained and current. Each ranger station in the park has a cooler with PPE and other items needed to collect and transport dead birds in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

3. Park employees should be informed of the preparations underway and educated about disease prevention including sanitation and personal protection. The education program in the park should be started at the first staff meeting of the New Year (just to remind everyone of what is on the way). Employees should know how the disease is transmitted, how to prevent breeding areas from forming around the workplace or at home, and how to protect themselves. All employees should also be taught to recognize the signs and symptoms of West Nile Virus (see appendix A).

4. All park areas should be checked to identify any potential artificial freshwater mosquito breeding areas. Work orders should be generated to clean up these areas. This should include evaluating park vehicle access roads (Burma Road, road to facilities, etc.). Those areas that have significant rutting that retain standing water longer then 2-3 days may need to be graded or filled. Sanitation actions should continue until October, when mosquito breeding activity ceases (see Appendix E).

5. Park Management Protocols, educational/outreach documents (mosquito brochure, interpretive programs), and other brochures and handouts should be prepared and management plans finalized. Education should consist of brochures, interpretive programs, press releases or other means to inform the public.

6. Permit approvals for pesticide applications or other management interventions should be obtained and should include all possible regulated chemicals for mosquito management use. This is done in partnership with Suffolk County Vector Control. Permit applications are made to the National Park Service Integrated Pest Management coordinator for FIIS.

7. The Mosquito Action Plan (MAP) should be prepared in accordance with the Mosquito Surveillance and Management Protocol. This plan should include a protocol for handling dead birds and should be reviewed and approved by the MAP committee.

8. Adult mosquito trapping sites and larval sampling sites should be chosen in consultation with park experts and scientists at the United States Geological Survey – Biological Research Division.

9. Arrangements should be made with Suffolk County Vector Control or other agencies for transport and testing of mosquitoes, dead birds, etc.

This stage begins in the summer when park visitation becomes moderate to high and mosquito activity is moderate to very high. The park will begin trapping mosquitoes and preparing pools of mosquitoes to be tested, in accordance with guidelines provided by the park’s Mosquito Surveillance and Management Protocol. This will entail close work with Suffolk County Vector Control.

1. Education efforts by the park should be fully implemented. Interpretive programs, radio announcements and press releases should be used to educate staff and the general public. Park brochures, handouts, and other sources of information should be distributed to all the visitor centers and, where appropriate and workable, in Fire Island communities. Employees should be sufficiently knowledgeable to provide residents and visitors with accurate information (or know where they can get it). However, it is critical that all employees realize that the Superintendent or his/her designee is the only one speaking to the media for the park.

2. The protocol for handling dead birds should be distributed and promoted. Fire Island employees, residents and visitors should understand what to do if they find a dead bird.

3. Mosquitoes will be collected once a week from each of nine traps set out at the William Floyd Estate and from Smith Point to the Lighthouse. These mosquitoes will be transported live back to PMF, where they will be sorted into the main vector species and stored on dry ice until delivered to Suffolk County Vector Control before Friday noon.

4. Dead birds will be collected in accordance with the park’s protocol (see Appendix B).

This stage occurs when routine mosquito monitoring indicates a potential emergence of adult mosquitoes, or West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis has been detected in or within 2 miles of the park. Visitation is probably high and mosquito activity high to very high. The park will notify Suffolk County of a potential emergence. If disease is detected in or near the park, visitors will be notified, informed of the (realistic) potential for contracting disease and advised to use protection.

1. Field responders should be reminded of the resources available to them (equipment caches etc.)

2. In the event that disease is detected, education efforts by the park should be intensified. More frequent interpretive talks, community outreach and active distribution of brochures or handouts by rangers are a few ways to do this. Press releases should be generated (see Appendix C).

3. In the event that disease is detected, the park will consult with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Suffolk County Vector Control, New York State Health Department, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and other authorities. Together with these agencies, the park will decide on the best course of action to minimize the risk to human health, and determine the possible environmental impact of any action taken.

4. In the event that disease is detected, arrangements for pesticide use should be finalized. The park should work closely with Suffolk County Vector Control and any other involved parties to assure that, should the need arise, application of pesticides is done within the guidelines approved by NPS, CDC, EPA and DEC.

This stage will be triggered by the detection of disease in more than one group ("pool") of mosquitoes or by detection of disease in both mosquitoes and birds, or in increasing numbers of birds. Mosquito management could take several forms: application of adulticide to the identification site, application of larvicide to breeding areas, and/or closing areas of the park to the public.

1. All of the actions listed above for Stage Two should be immediately implemented, if not already done.

2. The park’s response will conform to the Suffolk County Unified Command (SCUC) structure and the NPS Incident Command System (ICS). Park headquarters will be the Command Center, with supply, public relations and administration functions.

3. The Superintendent/Incident Commander will close areas of the park as needed or appropriate. This may impact large areas of the park such as a marina or the William Floyd Estate, or just specific trails.

4. There should be a daily radio brief to the staff as part of the incident command process. Public information efforts should be coordinated with the CDC and SCUC to prevent duplication of work and assure that information is consistent.

This stage is the evaluation period to immediately follow a Stage Three incident.

1. If Stage Three was reached, each response team leader, district ranger or other supervisor should hold discussions with his/her staff and be prepared to make a presentation to the Incident Commander and overhead no later that one pay period after the Stage Three incident has concluded. The Incident Commander and overhead team should be prepared to hold a supervisor’s critique based on the above time line.

2. The superintendent will schedule an all-employee staff meeting no later than two pay periods after the Incident Commander concludes his/her critique.

3. The park management team should quickly evaluate current conditions and a return to the appropriate stage should begin immediately.

At this point visitation is low and mosquito activity is low to dormant. The main purpose of this stage is to evaluate the past season and clean and store all equipment.

1. A final report will be written, detailing the results of the season’s mosquito surveillance and management activities.

Prepared by the FIIS Mosquito Action Plan Committee (in alphabetical order):

James Ebert, William Flanagan, Steven Henderson, Marie Lawrence, Jay Lippert, Richard Stavdal.

"Encephalitis" means an inflammation of the brain and can be caused by bacteria and viruses, including viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. West Nile Encephalitis is an infection of the brain caused by West Nile Virus (WNV), a virus commonly found in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. West Nile Virus is also found in southern Europe. It was found in the Western Hemisphere for the first time in 1999. It is closely related to St. Louis Encephalitis virus, also found in the United States.

West Nile Virus is considered a serious malady for birds, but not a serious problem for mammals. In New York City in 1999, West Nile Encephalitis proved to be most serious in the elderly and people who were already weakened by other ailments. In 1999, a total of seven people died due to West Nile Encephalitis. This number is far lower than deaths due to the flu or the common cold. By using insect repellants while engaged in outside activities, the risk of contracting West Nile Encephalitis can be greatly lowered. As more information about the activities of the West Nile Virus in the United States is collected, better figures will be obtained concerning actual human health risk. Current evidence suggests that this risk is very low.

Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on virus infected birds. The West Nile Virus may circulate only a few days in a bird. Because of this limitation, a timely feeding by a mosquito is critical in the survival of the virus. After an incubation period infected mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus to humans and or other animals. Disease symptoms do not develop in everyone that is bitten by an infected mosquito. Records from last summer's disease outbreak in New York City showed that elderly and physically weak humans were more likely to develop symptoms.

It is not known how long the virus has been in the U.S., but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientists first detected it in the eastern U.S. during the summer of 1999.

Transmission comes through the bite of a mosquito (primarily the Culex spp.) that is infected with the West Nile Virus. The virus is located in the mosquito's salivary glands. The virus cannot be transmitted from person to person.

Most people who are infected with WNV have no symptoms or may experience mild symptoms including fever, headache, and body aches, often with skin rash and swollen lymph glands. In a very few cases, more severe infections may include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis and, rarely, death.

The treatment for West Nile Encephalitis does not include a specific path. In more severe cases, intensive supportive therapy is indicated including hospitalization, IV fluids and nutrition, and good nursing care. Generally the individual symptoms and complications are treated as they develop.

There is no vaccine for the West Nile Virus at this time.

There is no evidence that a person can get West Nile Encephalitis from handling live or dead birds that test positive for the virus. However, to be safe, always use gloves or double plastic bags to handle or remove dead birds.

There is no documented evidence that an infection caused by the West Nile virus present additional risk to the non-born child of a pregnant woman.

Upon request, the U.S. Public Health Service (which includes CDC and NPS Public Health Program Consultants) and the National Wildlife Health Center, assist the National Park Service in the process of determining the presence and severity of a health threat in our park units. This team effort interprets site specific biological and environmental conditions in our parks and provides the NPS with critical guidance during times of potential health emergencies. The advice and information obtained from this consultation process is critical in determining management options and opportunities for the Service.

Mosquito activities increase at dawn and dusk. Be aware of mosquitoes if you're out during these times.

• Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, a hat, and gloves can provide increased protection from mosquitoes.

• The use of an insect repellant on clothes or sparingly on exposed skin can decrease encounters with mosquitoes. A repellant with 20% to 30% DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) as the active ingredient works the best.
• The use of a head net and mesh jacket can provide protection and needed ventilation on warm days.

Check on the web at HYPERLINK http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/ or call your local public health office.

The National Park Service, Fire Island National Seashore (NPS-FIIS) will work with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Suffolk County Health Department and Suffolk County Vector Control (SCVC) to collect and transport bird carcasses. This will be done in accordance with guidelines developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Centers for Disease Control, New York State and the Suffolk County Health Department.

For viral testing, the DEC definition of an acceptable bird carcass for collection and transportation is:

• The bird is a crow, a raven, a blue jay or a raptor (osprey, eagle, hawk, vulture, or falcon).
• The collector believes it died within the past 24 hours (the carcass is fresh, not bloated, infested or decayed).

• The collector believes it did not die of routine natural causes or due to an accident.

1. Safety first and foremost – DO NOT TOUCH THE CARCASS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS!

2. ANYONE (STAFF, RESIDENTS OR VISITORS) FINDING A DEAD BIRD SHOULD CALL THE SUFFOLK COUNTY DEAD BIRD HOTLINE IMMEDIATELY TO REPORT IT: (631) 853-8405.

3. Whenever possible, carcass collection and handling should be done by those permanent staff on the FIIS Wildlife Collection Protocol List (see list below).

4. Collecting equipment will be found in the dead bird collection-and-transport coolers located at all ranger stations or visitor centers (Lighthouse Annex, Sailors Haven, Watch Hill, Smith Point –Wilderness VC, William Floyd Estate) and at Talisman. In the coolers will be large plastic bags, rubber gloves and specimen tags. THE TAGS ARE TO BE COMPLETED BY THE CARCASS COLLECTOR.

5. Collectors should wear rubber gloves (found in cooler).

6. The carcass is collected by inverting a plastic bag (found in cooler), grasping the bird, then pulling the bird into the bag.

7. The bag with the bird is sealed, then placed inside another plastic bag with a tag containing the following information:

• Where the bird was found
• Date and time the bird was found
• Collector’s name
• Best estimate of what species it is (e.g. Cyanocitta cristata) and the common name (e.g. Blue Jay).

8. Place the bagged carcass in the dead bird transportation cooler with two or three blue ice packs (found in ranger/visitor station freezer). DO NOT FREEZE THE BIRD.

9. Remove the rubber gloves by turning one inside out, holding it with the other glove then turning that one inside out also. PLACE THE GLOVES IN THE COOLER.

10. Close the cooler securely and transport to the Patchogue Maintenance Facility (PMF) as quickly as possible by whatever means is available. At PMF there will be a large light gray dry ice cooler in the mosquito preparation area (near the bathroom). The cooler will be marked "DEAD BIRDS IN HERE." Place the bird in the cooler and close securely. The bird will be transported to SCVC with the next shipment of mosquitoes. The park has arranged with SCVC to keep dead birds on dry ice until delivered (dry ice will preserve the integrity of the virus, if any is present, but regular freezing will not).

11. Remove the used gloves from the transportation cooler and discard them into the box next to the sink marked "USED LATEX GLOVES." Replace with a fresh pair from the box of gloves on top of the sink. There will also be a box of plastic bags marked "for dead birds." Replace the plastic bag you used with a clean one from this box. Return the dead bird cooler to the ranger station/visitor center it came from and make sure the blue ice packs go back into the freezer at the ranger station/visitor center.

Below is a list of personnel recommended and authorized to remove wildlife from the park:

Michael Bilecki - Headquarters

Paul Czachor - Headquarters

Steve Czarniecki - William Floyd Estate

Steve Finn - Patchogue Maintenance Facility

Linda Gormezano - Patchogue Maintenance Facility

Steve Henderson - Smith Point

David Keplinger - East District

Judy Lakomy - East District

Marie Lawrence - Patchogue Maintenance Facility

Jay Lippert - West District

Irene Rosen - West District

Libby Schaaf - Patchogue Maintenance Facility

John Sherman - William Floyd Estate

Richard Stavdal - William Floyd Estate

Wayne Valentine - East District

Each ranger station at Fire Island National Seashore has Stage Three Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) stored in a clearly labeled black box. Each station also has a cooler for transporting dead birds. Boxes and coolers should be kept in an area with other protective equipment. They should be inspected periodically by District Rangers and the black PPE boxes should be kept locked. The key should be clearly marked and in an obvious, easily accessible location (such as a key box). Caches will be available to all staff involved in implementing MAP protocols. Caches are available at:

West District Ranger Station - Full cache

Sailors Haven Ranger Station/Shop - Full cache

Talisman Shop - Half cache

Watch Hill Ranger Station/Shop- Full cache

Wilderness Visitor Center- Half cache

William Floyd Estate- Half cache

Patchogue Maintenance Facility- Full cache

The following is the list of items in a full cache:

• 8 hoop style head nets
• 8 net style bug jackets
• 12 pr. Gloves
• 12 paper suits
• 1 case of repellant (4 cans)
• 4 "After Bite" pens
• one copy of the Mosquito Action Plan
• three blue plastic ice packs (to be placed in site area freezer from July 1 through September 15)

• 12 large plastic bags
• six pairs of rubber gloves
• 6 - 12 bird carcass identification tags

Additional PPE equipment is stored in black boxes at PMF in the Resource Management storage area (C4 key), in the building directly west of the main building.

As stated in this year’s Mosquito Surveillance and Management Protocol, Fire Island National Seashore will conduct a sanitation program to remove or reduce artificial larval habitat for the West Nile Virus vector, Culex spp. Such habitat is characterized by the presence of stagnant, dirty, fresh water. Fresh water that is present and undisturbed for 4 days or more and that contains a moderate to large quantity of organic matter (decaying vegetation; animal droppings; garbage of any kind; pollution or runoff from gardens, livestock holding pens, or other sources) is prime habitat for Culex. Following are suggestions from state and federal agencies in NY, NJ and elsewhere for where to look for Culex larval habitat and mechanical remedies to reduce the attractiveness of these areas to mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes can enter through covers that don’t fit properly, through cracks in the ground, or through vent pipes, and produce offspring in large numbers. Covers should be altered so that they fit adequately, cracks should be filled, and all vents should be covered with screening, preferably aluminum, to prevent the entry of females ready to lay eggs.

Garbage bags, tin cans or other open containers may collect water. Refuse may attract vermin whose droppings will make the area even more enticing to Culex. Trash or garbage of any kind should be removed and any existing puddles filled with sand.

Pens should be examined for permanent or semi-permanent puddles, or low, outlying areas of standing water that receive runoff. Steps should be taken to reduce the amount of runoff and fill in the puddles. Disposal of animal wastes should be done in an area with drainage sufficient to prevent the accumulation of rainwater.

Areas should be examined for the presence of standing fresh water (in cans or can covers, trash bags, old buckets, under or beside storage sheds). Containers should be overturned or adequately covered and puddles filled in.

Area should be examined for the presence of refuse, standing fresh water or containers able to collect standing water. Refuse should be removed, puddles filled, and containers covered or overturned.

Remove source of clog and check routinely.

Holes should be punched in the bottoms (not the sides) of plastic garbage or recycling bins to prevent them from holding water. All areas with significant human impact should be examined for forgotten or discarded containers (flower pots, tin cans, buckets, etc.) that may fill with fresh water and provide breeding habitat. Containers should be discarded, covered or overturned.

Note: If potential breeding sites are found that are not easy to remedy by the means outlined above, the location and a brief description of the area should be given to the park biologist in charge of mosquito management.

Return to Fire Island National Seashore natural resources webpage.

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