About Us
The Weed and Pest is a division within the City's Community Recreation and Events department. We manage mosquitoes and noxious weeds for the Cheyenne area.​
The division operates under the guidelines of the 1973 Weed and Pest Act to manage noxious and invasive weeds, and to suppress insects that transmit diseases and viruses to humans.
The Work We Do
Mosquito Control
Our top priority is managing mosquito populations, specifically the species that can transmit West Nile Virus to our community. ​​
We utilize GIS software and mapping to understand their populations over time, as well as nightly traps to inform active decisions to keep our community safe. These traps developed by the CDC (Center for Disease Control), attract and trap the mosquitoes so we can identify them to species. Species that could be carrying virus are sent to the Wyoming Department of Health Public Laboratory to be tested.
Weed and Pest uses an integrated management approach for mosquito control. That means we use a variety of research-backed methods to suppress mosquito populations, such as reducing their breeding habitat and using products that target them in each stage of life. Help us keep each other safe and stop mosquitoes in their tracks, by regularly dumping out anything that holds stagnant water.
Invasive Weed Management
The state of Wyoming maintains a list of plant species that are of significant threat to the health of people, our environments, and the economy, and need to be managed. A list of these "state-designated" species and a more specific "county-designated" list can be found here: Laramie County Weed and Pest Website.
We tackle noxious weeds on City owned property across Cheyenne using an integrated management approach. We maintain maps and utilize GIS software to monitor weed populations and our control operations.
Some ways we manage these weeds include: releasing predatory insects that specialize in feeding on problematic plants, promoting beneficial native grasses and reseeding, mechanical removal, and when necessary applying selective herbicides to reduce densities of invasive species.
Other Pest Control
Please give us any ticks you find! We are involved in state-wide efforts to understand the species of ticks we have in Wyoming.
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We occasionally perform ground squirrel and prairie dog control.
Fly Control for Cheyenne Frontier Days
Cheyenne Frontier Days brings in a lot of equine, livestock, and human traffic, which in turn increases the filth fly populations before, during, and after CFD. We set over 100 fly traps around frontier days to help contain them and reduce their numbers around the food vendors. Sticky fly tapes are also used to monitor their numbers. Biological control of the filth flies using nematodes (roundworms) and parasitic wasps that specialize on the flies reduce their populations as well.
Engagement and Education
We are focused on protecting public health, building relationships with our neighbors and partners, and being good environmental stewards.
You will see us at Rooted In Cheyenne plantings, SuperDay, Cheyenne Frontier Days, state conferences, and other city events (parades).
We are interested in more public education opportunities to encourage young scientists, so please reach out for a tour or classroom visit. ​
