About Us
The Weed and Pest is a division within the City's Community Recreation and Events department. We monitor and manage the weeds and mosquitoes for the Cheyenne community. We collaborate with the Laramie County Weed and Pest, but are separate entities.
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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.
Invasive Weed Management
We tackle noxious weeds on City owned property across Cheyenne using an integrated management approach. We monitor treatment sites and use a variety of management strategies including: releasing insects that feed on problematic plants, promoting beneficial native grasses, and applying selective herbicides to reduce densities of invasive species.
Vector Suppression
Mosquitoes that transmit viruses to humans are a top priority for our division. We focus on preventing mosquitoes by targeting their aquatic habitats before they emerge as biting adults. We monitor over 700 known sites and treat them using a naturally occurring bacteria known as BTI, or with the insect growth regulator.
Virus Monitoring
Throughout the summer, we monitor mosquito populations with specialized traps and test these mosquitoes for possible viruses. We collaborate with the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory, who provides additional testing for our division, and for other mosquito districts around the state. We currently test for West Nile Virus, Western Equine Encephalitis, and St Louis Encephalitis.
Engagement and Education
Engaging with our community is another integral part of Weed and Pest, where we can join forces in reducing mosquito habitat and keeping each other safe. We are always excited to talk about how plants, insects, and pathogens interact with each other and impact human lives.