United States Department of the Interior

IN REPLY REFER TO:

September 20, 2000
A36 (FIIS)
Fair Harbor Community Association

Dear ....... :

We received your recent "open letter" regarding mosquitoes and Fire Island National Seashore. We are happy to respond to your concerns. We agree that the protection of public health and safety is a paramount concern. We also agree that the use of adulticides is not a preferred alternative in responding to mosquitoes.

Fire Island National Seashore was created for the purpose of protecting the natural resources of Fire Island. In that capacity we weigh the risks and benefits of anything that is detrimental to the health of the ecosystem, wildlife, and people. In this context, mosquitoes are not regarded simply as a "pest," but as part of the ecosystem. Working with Dr. Howard S. Ginsberg of the U.S.G.S. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Park Service Integrated Pest Management Office in Washington, the U.S. Public Health Service, and Suffolk County Vector Control, the National Park Service developed a mosquito monitoring and testing program for Fire Island National Seashore that would both protect public health and ensure protection of the natural resources. The program was implemented in the spring of 1998.

This plan is based upon science, expert advice, and application of National Park Service policy, laws, regulations, and plans. It is the policy of the National Park Service to not use pesticides for nuisance insects. This is stated in the National Park Service Management policies that apply to all parks: "Native species will be allowed to function unimpeded except... to manage a human health hazard as defined by the Centers for Disease Control or to protect against a significant threat to public safety," NPS

Management Policies, Chapter 4:13. Only the Director of the National Park Service can approve the use of pesticides in a unit of the National Park System.

The program in place at Fire Island National Seashore is a multi-pronged approach designed to address the three major concerns: 1) public safety, 2) public education 3) resource protection. The elements of the program:

1. The National Park Service developed and implemented a mosquito testing and monitoring program throughout Fire Island National Seashore.
2. The National Park Service adopted an accelerated step-by-step response in the event EEE or WNV was discovered in mosquitoes on Fire Island or nearby communities. This procedure includes the use of pesticides on mosquitoes should a disease risk materialize.
3. We hired a seasonal biologist each year for the past three years to implement the monitoring program.
4. We implemented a restoration of the marsh at the William Floyd Estate. This consisted of plugging the "mosquito ditches" that were commonly built in the northeast until the 1960’s in order to restore a more natural open water marsh. Studies in other areas have shown this program to restore fisheries, bird habitat, and reduce mosquitoes. The project was completed in the fall of 1999 with the cooperation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, Suffolk County Vector Control, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
5. The National Park Service initiated a public education program through the production of a brochure entitled, "Mosquitoes and You", that has been distributed widely. The brochure addresses the life cycle of mosquitoes, health risks, and personal prevention techniques.
6. Fire Island National Seashore staff, including the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, conducted a series of public meetings on the island and in nearby communities presenting the new program and answering questions about mosquitoes.
7. The National Park Service has produced letters, a question and answer sheet, and news releases explaining our program and addressing concerns for the protection of both public health and resource health by minimizing the use of pesticides.
8. We created a page on the Seashore’s website devoted to mosquito information.
9. Rangers and maintenance staff regularly look for standing pools of stagnant rainwater that have collected in artificial locations and remove them as soon as possible.

The monitoring and response protocol is the heart of the program . This is a testing program coupled with a graduated escalation of response based upon results. Testing is done by the same laboratory as all other County samples in order to coordinate findings with Vector Control and ensure that the State and County public health officials receive first notice of any positive hits for disease. We also collect ‘dead birds for testing.

If West Nile or Eastern Equine Encephalitis are detected, the National Park Service will determine appropriate actions in consultation with other experts. Interventions can include closing portions of the Seashore to the public, mosquito management methods such as applications of Bti to prevent emergences, or adulticide applications to areas with high levels of adult Culex or Aedes sollicitans. As a result of the positive test for WNV found at Saltaire reported on September 7 from mosquitoes collected between August 22 and 24, the National Park Service did approve Suffolk County Vector Control to use adulticides west of Sailors Haven/Sunken Forest. At this time the County has not deemed such application necessary. We should note that Suffolk County has identified that the application of pesticides in the communities on Fire Island this summer has been for nuisance mosquitoes, and not for the prevention of West Nile Virus.

Culex is a backyard mosquito and does not fly long distances. It is important that residents on Fire Island continue to be vigilant for areas that may harbor mosquitoes on and around their property. These areas are generally more of a risk for Culex in the communities than the natural stands of water on National Park Service lands.

The National Park Service program of protecting natural areas is consistent with that of the State of New York’s plan. Here is an excerpt from the State’s plan:

In September 1999, WNV, a mosquito-borne infection that can cause encephalitis, was found in New York State. Although the chances of a person getting encephalitis are small, there are some simple steps the public can take to reduce their risk even further. Therefore, enhanced public awareness and prevention education are two important strategies to address the potential return of WNV. These strategies can promote public cooperation in reducing man-made collections of polluted water in which Culex pipiens mosquitoes breed; help individuals reduce their risk of being bitten by mosquitoes; and educate health care providers about the virus, its prevention, and the diagnosis and treatment of human encephalitis.

Implementation Plan:

• Increase awareness among health professionals and the public of the potential risk for WNV infection and other arboviral diseases.

• Encourage health care providers to promptly report cases of human encephalitis.

• Improve knowledge among health care providers of the signs and symptoms of human encephalitis, and of appropriate treatments.

• Improve public knowledge of the sources and reservoirs of arboviral diseases (mosquitoes, birds and mammals).

• Encourage the elimination of Culex pipiens breeding sites (man-made collections of polluted water, such as stagnant backyard pools or bird baths, old tires, rain water barrels, etc.), as well as activities that will increase personal mosquito protection around the home, e.g., clean clogged rain gutters, install or repair screens). Culex pipiens, the common house mosquito, is the species most associated with transmission of WNV in NYS.

• Depending on the level of risk for WNV, as evidenced by bird and/or human infection, encourage the adoption of appropriate personal protection techniques (dress appropriately; consider using an insect repellent, but be informed about potential health effects; minimize outdoor activities between dusk and dawn).

You may want to refer to the information available from the State of New York’s website (www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/westnile/final.htm) or the County website (www.co.suffolk.ny.us/vector/youcando.html) for more information.

We appreciate your continued interest in Fire Island National Seashore and are happy to provide you any information you may wish about our mosquito program.

Sincerely,