As monsoon season picks up and mosquito populations start to rise, officials at the Animas Mosquito Control District praised residents for doing their part in fighting the reviled insect.

Madeline Geiger, a lab assistant for the district, said as crews spray around the area, they’ve noticed residents have taken important preventative measures around the house to remove standing water, where mosquitoes breed.

“We’re noticing that residents are turning over buckets, they are putting tires in storage, and removing anything that collects water,” Geiger said. “They’re learning to remove that risk themselves.”

Geiger said the district – which covers an area from the Animas Valley, west to Wildcat Canyon, east near Farmington Hill and as far south as Weasel Skin bridge – relies on residents to take care of mosquito hot spots on private property.

“Since we can’t go yard to yard with 14,000 residents, it’s (residents removing mosquito habitats) working out tremendously,” she said.

Geiger said this season has seen higher populations of mosquitoes than in the past five years, and if recent weather trends continue, the infestation will get worse.

“We’ve hit a flat point, but the rains are starting to pick up again, and we’re seeing that population increase,” she said.

The control district continually tests for the types of mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus, and so far this year, no samples have tested positive. The effort is conducted in part with San Juan Basin Health Department and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Geiger urged residents who would like the district to administer its organic preventative spray to call 247-1483.

jroemo@durangoherald.com