Local News

Mosquito season in Wisconsin worse than last year, could go into October

Published

6 years ago

July 25, 2018

A mild winter that wouldn’t go away, followed by a warmer than usual summer, have combined for a bad mosquito season in Wisconsin.

A University of Wisconsin biology professor said mosquito numbers are higher this year and also coming in from other states.

La Crosse County reduced its vector control program last year, and now contracts with Orkin to search for disease-spreading mosquitoes.

The Orkin pest control company, which has been contracted by La Crosse County to seek out mosquitoes, also says the bug population is higher throughout the region.

“My territory covers 11 states,” John Kane with Orkin said. “So, not just La Crosse but surrounding cities, but also across the midwest, which I’ve seen a substantially more mosquito pressure than last year.”

Kane said mosquitoes generally stayed underground longer this past winter, and didn’t hatch early only to die before winter was officially over.

Kane added that if the summer continues to be warm, the mosquitoes may stick around until October.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.