'I'm a little outraged': Beekeepers react to aerial mosquito spraying in Brunswick County
Some people have experienced firsthand just how bad mosquitos can be after storms. Now, one county is taking matters into its own hands to deal with the insects.
Aerial spraying is taking place in Brunswick County starting on Oct. 11. However, not everyone in the county is looking forward to the spraying. Some people have brought up concerns that the spray will impact their health, saying they do not want to breathe in any extra chemicals.
People like Samantha Werner are not only worried about the impacts the spraying will have on people’s health but also how it will impact insects other than mosquitos.
Werner is a North Carolina-certified beekeeper. She lives in Brunswick County and has spent hours collecting and caring for her bees. She is now worried that the insects she cares for are in danger.
“I’m very angry. I am extremely angry. Yesterday, I was an emotional wreck,” said Werner.
The county says following a number of major storms over the last few months, the mosquito population has exploded. County officials say something needs to be done.
“Between both Tropical Storm Debby and Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight. Those conditions we’ve had have led to a lot of standing water in our communities and it’s exacerbated the mosquito populations in our areas,” said Meagan Kascsak, Communications Director for Brunswick County.
“It was deemed a critical public health need to do this aerial post-disaster mosquito spraying,” she added.
Kascsak says the county is worried about mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile Virus. She says now is the time for the county to take steps to help prevent people from getting sick.
Beekeepers like Werner were given a warning to move their hives while the spraying took place. However, Werner says moving hives is not an option for everyone.
" I’m a little outraged,” said Werner “Not only did they give us very little notice, but I’m registered with the state, the city, and the county they are not even allowed to spray with a truck around my property within a certain distance because I do have bees that are state protected.”
“We can not move our beehives to other counties as we’ve been told to do. I don’t know anybody in another county that could take my bee hives,” said Werner.
Werner says she and other beekeepers will have to close their hives while the spraying takes place. Werner says when a hive is closed some bees will be left outside and vulnerable to the spray.
“People think it’s crazy but I cry over any bee that has to die. When I wrap those hives up as I am going to have to do, there are going to be bees left out and they may be very essential to that hive,” said Werner.
The county will be spraying Dibrom. The chemical is EPA-approved and commonly used to kill off mosquitos however, it is toxic to bees.
The county says while the spraying takes place people should avoid being outside because because the spraying can cause eye irritation.
“We are doing it specifically in the evening time because that is when we are not going to have folks out as much. It is also the time of day when most of the insects are going to be asleep,” said Kascsak “But it is a great time to target mosquitos,” she added.
It’s a spray that many beekeepers wish wasn’t happening in the first place, but something county officials say is necessary.
“Think of the animals, think of those that can not speak for themselves. Think of the hundreds of beekeepers in this county that were not given enough notice or may still not even know about this,” said Werner.
More information about mosquito spraying in Brunswick County can be found here.
