Md. Officials Still Monitoring Mosquito Threat
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Dry weather along the Eastern Shore has given officials tasked with controlling mosquitoes in the state a brief respite, although they are concerned about a resurgence of the insect populations later in the season.
The Baltimore Sun reports that officials say a big dent was put in state and local spraying budgets when mosquito populations surged in the spring.
Mike Cantwell with the state agriculture department says mosquitoes were found in areas where they didn't expect to find them, earlier than expected and in greater numbers in Eastern and Western Shore counties.
He says services will not be reduced but the department's budget for spraying was originally created to control mosquitoes at lower-than-normal population levels.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
