MOORHEAD (KFGO/KVRR) — The Moorhead City Council voted unanimously to lift the city’s pause on aerial spraying for mosquitos.
The policy allows aerial spraying if West Nile virus is detected. The virus has been in Cass County, but not in Clay County.
If aerial spraying is approved, the policy requires a lower concentration of the pesticide used to kill mosquitoes. City staff will research additional non-toxic options.
Mosquito trap counts are three times higher in Moorhead than Fargo which has seen aerial spraying. Moorhead has only done targeted ground spraying of hot spots.
Moorhead has not aerial sprayed for mosquitos since 2020 when streets and lawns were littered with dying or dead monarch butterflies after an aerial application over Fargo.
Mayor Shelly Carlson says the mosquito issue is the most community engagement she has seen in her seven years on the council.
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