U.S. Air Force Reserve Conducts Aerial Mosquito Control Mission Over Watford City
Travis Bateman
Farmer Staff Writer
Residents looking to the skies Wednesday evening, July 15, may have noticed a large military aircraft flying at unusually low altitude over Watford City with a total of seven passes made over the city.
The aircraft was part of a scheduled U.S. Air Force Reserve aerial mosquito control mission designed to reduce adult mosquito populations and lower the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus.
The operation is part of a regional mosquito control effort coordinated between local vector control agencies, Williams County, Watford City, and the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 910th Airlift Wing, headquartered at Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Ohio. Weather conditions determine the exact evening each mission is flown, with spraying taking place after sunset when adult mosquitoes are most active.
Residents throughout Watford City and surrounding treatment areas may have observed a modified C-130 Hercules aircraft, Call Sign “Spray23,” flying several hundred feet above the ground while dispersing an ultra-low-volume adulticide. The aircraft is specially equipped with the Department of Defense’s Modular Aerial Spray System, making the 910th Airlift Wing the military’s only fixed-wing aerial spray unit capable of conducting large-area mosquito control operations.
Officials said the treatment utilized Trumpet EC, an Environmental Protection Agency-approved mosquito adulticide whose active ingredient is Naled. The product is widely used throughout the United States for public health mosquito control programs and is intended to rapidly reduce adult mosquito populations that may carry West Nile virus.
Although mosquito control programs work year-round by treating breeding sites with larvicides, aerial spraying targets flying adult mosquitoes when surveillance indicates populations have increased to levels where additional control measures are warranted. Public health officials emphasize that aerial spraying is only one component of an integrated mosquito management program.
While no widespread public health emergency has been declared locally, mosquito surveillance in western North Dakota continues throughout the summer as West Nile virus remains an annual concern. North Dakota typically experiences increased mosquito activity during July and August, particularly following periods of rainfall and warm temperatures.
Health officials continue to recommend that residents take precautions to reduce mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours around dusk and dawn, using EPA-approved insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and eliminating standing water around homes where mosquitoes can breed.
Individuals wishing to further minimize exposure during aerial treatments are encouraged to remain indoors while spraying is underway, bring pets inside, cover or move outdoor toys and pet dishes, and wash garden produce before consumption if exposed to the spray. These recommendations align with guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Air Force Reserve has supported mosquito control operations across North Dakota for many years, assisting communities including Watford City, Williston, and Minot. Similar missions have been conducted following periods of elevated mosquito populations to help protect public health while supplementing local mosquito control efforts.
Local officials remind residents that community participation remains an important part of mosquito control. Emptying containers that collect standing water, maintaining yards, and using personal protective measures can significantly reduce mosquito breeding and help limit the spread of mosquito-borne diseases throughout the summer season.