History

The effort started in 1952  as residents of the Animas Valley began to form a District for mosquito control. Eight years later, in 1960, the Animas Mosquito Control District (AMCD) was voted into existence by the taxpaying residents. 

Before AMCD was voted into existence in 1960, people working in the Animas Valley, in the orchards or fields had to wear bee veils and heavy clothing for protec­tion. Mosquito swarms were so dense at times and in places, that people, pets, livestock and wildlife would nearly suffocate. Rubbing a hand down the neck of a horse would result in solid mosquitoes and blood. A rancher living in the valley then said he watched a herd of cattle run across a field and right through a fence, trying to get away from the clouds of mosquitoes. To fish on the river, people had to build smudge fires to ward off the swarms. Anyone who wasn't here then may not realize how bad the mosquito problem was.
By 1989, a resident growing hay in the Valley said she saw maybe three mosquitoes all summer, and she had been by the river most of the time. At the present time, the AMCD crews hear the following statement from residents on a regular basis..... "Mosquito Control? Why do we need mosquito control? There are no mosquitoes". To this we respond "You're Welcome!" The Animas Mosquito Control District has been and continues to be the solution! 

Thanks to the pioneers of this District, mosquito abatement has progressed through the years to better fulfill the goals of improving human, animal and ecosystem health. Presently, AMCD focuses on an extensive larvae control program, eliminating mosquitoes in their aquatic habitats before they become a health threat or a nuisance. AMCD is committed to operating in a safe, ecologically sound manner, respecting both the public and private lands that it operates on when carrying out mosquito abatement activities. These services begin as early as February each year and may continue as late as November, depending on weather conditions.

Our District

Since AMCD's founding in 1960, voters have added new sections so that the District now covers almost 50 square miles; from Bakers Bridge to the north (Hwy 550/C.R. 250), Falls Creek to the west (C.R. 204 & 205), west on Hwy 160A to mile marker 80, approximately 5 miles east on Florida Rd. (C.R. 240), south on Hwy 550 to Farmington Hill and approximately 5 miles southwest on La Posta (C.R. 213).