Mosquito season is local, but West Nile tracking is statewide

Mosquito season feels local because it is local. A backyard bucket can matter. So can an old pool, a creek edge, a wet spring, or a warm week. West Nile tracking adds a state map to that local issue.

California’s West Nile Virus site is the state place to check reported activity, find a local vector agency, and report dead birds. West Nile infections are most common in summer and early fall, but mosquitoes are active year-round in California. The online dead-bird form is available year-round.

The home habit is small. Dump standing water. Fix screens. Use a label-approved repellent when mosquitoes are active. Report dead birds through the official site. If bites are heavy around a property, contact the local mosquito or vector control agency instead of guessing where they are breeding. A surveillance map is useful context, not a medical diagnosis or a promise that an area has no risk.