A county health department in New York’s Hudson Valley had such success the first time with a giveaway in the battle against West Nile Virus that it has planned a second distribution.
The Westchester County Health Department will once again offer free minnows to help residents keep their ponds from becoming breeding sites for mosquitoes that can carry West Nile Virus. Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler says the strategy appealed to residents who liked the idea of using a natural predator to reduce the mosquito population. She says they gave away all 100 pounds of minnows to about 150 people last week. The minnows should be released in ponds that have a minimum of eight to twelve inches of water. The second round of mosquito-eating fathead minnows will be given out to residents, for free, Thursday and Friday at the Westchester County airport from noon to 6 p.m.
