What Is The Cowlitz County Mosquito Control District?

The Cowlitz County Mosquito Control District was established in 1991 under the authority of RCW 17.28 and encompasses all of Cowlitz County except for the City of Woodland.

The Cowlitz County Mosquito Control District works from March through September to control mosquitoes in Cowlitz County.  The Control District identifies areas with mosquitoes by dipping in wetlands for mosquito larvae and trapping adult mosquitoes.  

Areas with mosquito larvae are treated with larvaecides by licensed technicians to reduce the mosquito population.  An areas with heavy adult mosquito population are treated with a low volume fogger to reduce the mosquito population.   

Any resident of Cowlitz County (with the exception of those people living within the city limits of Woodland) may call the Mosquito Control District hot line (360-425-5658) 24 hours a day to request help with mosquito problems on private property.  There is no charge for this service.  They are funded by an assessment on all property except that in the city limits of Woodland.  

The Mosquito Control District sets adult traps any place in the county where there is a known mosquito problem.  They do this to find concentrations of adults that are then treated with adulticide.  The Control District also trap for adults on private property if a resident reports a problem.  They have set traps in over 280 locations and cover the entire county (except inside the city limits of Woodland).

Mosquito Control District Hotline

360-425-5658

• West Nile Virus

• West Nile Virus Dead Bird Testing Results

• West Nile Virus Educational Materials

• DOH West Nile Virus News Releases

• DOH Public Service Announcements 

• How Do I Report a Dead Bird?

• Do You Know What's Biting You Flyer

• Mosquito Problems Start At Home Poster

• Fight The Bite

Cowlitz County Mosquito Control District 

Mission Statement:

We will minimize mosquito borne disease by reducing mosquito populations in Cowlitz County.

Policy Statement:

It is impossible to eliminate all mosquitoes from the county.  But, by larviciding those areas where mosquitoes breed, we can greatly reduce mosquito populations, and thereby reduce the chance of mosquito borne disease.  Adult mosquito treatments will only be made when public health is threatened by large populations of mosquito species that can carry disease.

Our Priorities:

1. Eliminate or reduce mosquito breeding sites, where possible. 

2. Treat those areas mosquitoes do breed early in the season. 

3. Adulticide public areas, when needed, and when feasible

We will:

• Educate the public on how to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in their area.

• Educate the public on how to reduce mosquito bites

• Work with the community to identify mosquito breeding sites.

• Contact property owners and try to have them clean up or modify their property so that mosquitoes do not have a place to breed.

• Check known breeding sites and treat when larvae are present.

• Adulticide public areas when adults are present in numbers above our threshold.  These include public roadways, parks, and other public gathering areas.

We cannot:

• Eliminate all mosquitoes from the county.

• Remove tires and other debris.

• Adulticide private property. 

Cowlitz County Mosquito Control District Publications

• Mosquito Control District Mission Statement
• 2007 WNV Contingency Plan
• 2006 Year End Report
• 2005 Year End Report
• 2004 Year End Report
• Summary Table of Cowlitz County Mosquitoes
• Mosquitoes Found In Cowlitz County

Brochures

• Mosquito Prevention At Home
• Personal Protection Against Mosquitoes
• Mosquito Control In Cowlitz County
• Mosquito Control Agents Used In Cowlitz County

Posters

• Wanted: Biting Female Mosquitoes 8.5x11
• Wanted: Biting Female Mosquitoes 11x17
• Keep Mosquitoes Away

Audio Public Service Announcements 

• Tires As Mosquito Breeding Grounds
• Biting Female Mosquito Information
• Reducing Exposure To Mosquitoes
• 2007 Cowlitz Mosquito Control Operations
• Cowlitz Mosquito Control Operations

Mosquito Control and Prevention of Bites

• Make sure window and door screens are tight

• Reducing breeding grounds by eliminating stagnant water on your property, and by changing standing water (such as in birdbaths) frequently.

• The Washington State Department of Health recommends using insect repellants that contain one of the following ingredients.

  • DEET

  • Picaridin

  • Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus

Please see the CDC webpage linked below for more information on insect repellent efficacy, use and safety 

 CDC Insect Repellant Page

 Dead Bird Reporting and Handling

Increasing sightings of dead birds may be an indication of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the community.  Mosquitoes that carry this virus transmit it to birds.  The infected birds often become ill and die as a result.  WNV infects certain species of wild birds, including crows, jays, ravens and magpies which are more likely to die from the disease. 

Although it is important to notify the Health Department of your dead bird sighting, all will not be collected or tested.  You will be advised whether the bird should be submitted for testing.  When collecting the bird for testing use disposable gloves or double plastic bags to collect the bird.  

Although there is no current evidence that you can contract West Nile Virus from handling dead birds, avoid barehanded contact.  In general, do not handle dead animals without proper protection!  Contact the Cowlitz County Health Department at 360-414-5599 to report a dead bird or report online with the link below.

Washington State Dead Bird Reporting

 Other Insect Control

For information on insect nuisances other than mosquitoes, please contact the Master Gardener at the County Extension office at 577-3014.