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This past quarter brought mostly agreeable weather conditions to Bay County, with only localized flooding events and minimal nuisance mosquito activity overall. However, the hot and dry conditions during the summer contributed to earlier and increased West Nile virus activity across the region beginning in early August. As of the end of September, we recorded 31 mosquito samples testing positive for West Nile virus, along with 4 positive bird cases. Fortunately, a cool snap in early September helped slow both mosquito populations and virus transmission bringing MIR levels down after Labor Day.
Also of note was a decrease in Coquillettidia perturbans activity, especially along the shoreline. This drop is likely attributed to lower Great Lakes water levels which reduced available habitats for these mosquitoes to breed in. On the operations side, we made significant progress as the season progressed in integrating the new FieldSeeker Core system into all areas of our program. While there was a learning curve, Matt Mikolajczak led the transition and successfully got the system up and functional for everyday operations. The new system allows us to easily record, view, and compile data across all departments, improving both efficiency and collaboration.. Rebecca Brandt, Manager |
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As we wrap up the 2025 operational season, there are a few items to highlight. This season will be remembered for significant West Nile virus circulation among Culex mosquito populations. Mosquitoes captured by MCMC are organized by genus/species into groups for testing, called pools. Typically, MCMC observes a few positive pools, meaning at least one mosquito in a pool (up to 50 individuals) was positive for the virus. However, in 2025, we observed 31 positive pools, compared to the usual 2–3! This is the highest number recorded since we began testing by the State approximately five years ago. These results heightened our concern about elevated risks for dead-end hosts, such as horses and humans. Fortunately, as of this writing, no human cases have been reported in Midland County. Moreover, the number of West Nile cases in Michigan appears consistent with a typical season despite the high number of positive mosquito pools. This trend of elevated mosquito infections extends across the Upper Midwest, including Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
MCMC has been tracking the number of ticks brought back by field crews for several years, noting a steady increase. Here are the numbers since 2020: • 2020: 0 • 2021: 3 • 2022: 10 • 2023: 21 • 2024: 48 • 2025: 72 While no cases of Lyme disease have been reported among Midland County residents, a few cases have occurred in the recent years, suggesting the risk remains and may be increasing. We will continue to monitor and explore additional measures to prevent tick bites and Lyme disease among our field crew. On a bittersweet note, Joyce McLaughlin announced her retirement at the end of 2025. Despite her small stature, no one at MCMC has bigger shoes to fill! We view this news with sadness on our part but also with tremendous gratitude for her years of dedicated service. No effort to thank Joyce could fully capture what she deserves. Her phenomenal work has shaped an exceptional program for Midland County and her contributions will remain legendary at MCMC for years to come. All the best, Joyce, and thank you for your remarkable legacy! Happy Fall to all! Carl Doud, Director |
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As another control season comes to an end, there is value in summarizing and highlighting the uniqueness of this year. After a normal first half of the season, the second half was anything but normal. We experienced a dichotomy of dry vs. wet areas in the county, which resulted in varied mosquito populations. Much of northern and western Saginaw County was below average—near drought levels for most of the summer—with minimal nuisance activity. In contrast, the southeast portion of the county experienced a significant hatch of floodwater Aedes, associated not only with direct rainfall but also regional rainfall that inundated the floodplains along the Cass and Flint rivers. These floodplains are home to not only voracious Ae. sticticus and trivittatus, but also Ps. ferox. These adult mosquitoes are a challenge to control, as they tend to stay within their wooded habitats. In addition to addressing this nuisance, Culex habitat was prioritized since WNV is always a concern as we move toward the end of summer.
This year’s arbovirus activity surged across Michigan and the Midwest. Interestingly, Culex numbers were average or even below average, yet West Nile virus (WNV) infection rates were unusually high. Activity also peaked much earlier than expected, taking off in July and reaching its height in mid-August, several weeks ahead of the typical late-August/September peak. Hot weather likely fueled this early spike. Fortunately, cooler conditions in late August and early September helped slow transmission. By September, only a few positive pools were found each week, compared to many in August. As we moved into September, 80-degree weather returned, with dry conditions persisting. Only about an inch of rain fell through mid-September. Normally one of our wettest months, September often produces end-of-season nuisance mosquitoes, but not this year. We expect warmer temperatures to linger into October but anticipate the lack of rainfall and the advance of the calendar will bring the season to an end. Highlights for the season, in addition to normal services and programs:
Our seasonal staff did an outstanding job responding to this year’s mosquito threats. With GIS guiding operations and extended-release products expanding our reach, we continue to improve both efficiency and effectiveness. As the 2025 season closes, we now turn to review, assessment, and planning for the 2026 season. Have a great offseason, and happy planning! Bill Stanuszek, Director |
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The weather certainly has been cooperative during this final portion of our mosquito season. Minimal rainfall and cooler temperatures have persisted though out the county. However, the West Nile Virus continued to be a constant issue we have struggled with trying to eliminate or at least reduce this season. The virus mainly has been detected in sewage lagoons, despite the use of product and extra treatment efforts. Concerns of the WNV not only extends across the districts, but extends across the entire region as well. The current numbers in the county stand at 14 positive pools and 1 bird.
The implementation of the new GIS tablets from Frontier Precision continues to improve efficiency and treatment capability. We look forward to completing the final phase with Frontier in 2026. Once again, a big thank you to Marianne Daily and all of the technicians who participated in learning this new technology. As of September 29th, we have officially ended our 2025 mosquito season. A big thank you to all of the TCMA employees for their dedication and hard work. We look forward to the upcoming online 7F Training and the MMCA conference in February. I wish you all a wonderful off season and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. Larry Zapfe, Director |
