While the
county has been deploying crop dusters to kill mosquitoes, one
man has formed a group to protect the insects.
Ross Pease
is the founder and leader of PIRAC - the Pamlico Insect Rights
Action Committee. Normally seen quietly serving customers at
the Provision Company in Oriental, the mild-mannered Pease almost
raises his voice when he talks about how mosquitoes are misunderstood.
"They have feelings, too" he says, "and I am
horrified -- just horrified -- by the counties efforts to kill
these small beings. I don't understand our County Health Director's
actions - what about the health of the mosquitoes?"
Pease isn't
just talking - he has begun a catch and release program. TownDock.net
found him early Monday collecting mosquitoes before the county's
planes could take to the air. Wearing a rugged outdoors hat
and goggles, Pease backed up his pick up truck to the edge of
an infested salt marsh - and then directed the insects into
his truck with a high powered fan.
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Ross
Pease directs mosquitoes into his truck - assisted by
a turbo fan
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After
filling his covered pickup with what Pease estimates at "upwards
of 300,000 of my little friends", he then will transport
the insects to Key West, Florida. In early September PIRAC funded
an investigative trip for Ross Pease to Key West, where he says
he found ideal conditions - "there are no mosquitoes down
there now, but there is lots of bare skin. I think these Pamlico
County mosquitoes will be very happy in their new home."
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Pease feeds
the mosquitoes by offering his bare arm
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At first,
we didn't see how the mosquito's could survive the long trip
in the back of the truck, but Pease says he has that figured
out. "I put three inches of black mud and marsh grass in
the pickup bed. When they get hungry I just put my bare arm
back there for about ten minutes. It's the least I can do."
He estimates he will stop seventeen times on the trip south
for a "feeding."
That's where Pease is looking for help, and some new PIRAC members.
"You get to go to Key West" points out the PIRAC founder,
"but I really need to split duty with another kind volunteer
for the feedings. All you have to do is put your bare arm back
there every other time. It's very rewarding. " Pease says
prospective volunteers must sign an affidavit saying they have
not used OFF or Cutter in the last 30 days.
The Pamlico Insect
Rights Action Committee isn't just running the catch and release
program.
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Emblazoned with the PIRAC logo, the marsh
yacht goes out to better understand mosquito society
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In addition
Pease has started what he calls "Mosquito Outreach,"
carried out in PIRAC's new marsh yacht. Pease says "I can
become part of the mosquito culture by spending more time in
their habitat."
