HealthHealthDeerVille Platte, Louisiana

Mosquito Clouds Killing Deer, Cattle In Southwest Louisiana

Swarms of skeeters are biting horses, deer and cattle and leaving them anemic and bleeding under their skins.
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By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Hurricane Laura left a wake of destruction across southwest Louisiana after making landfall late last month.

In its aftermath, clouds of mosquitoes have overrun the area.

The swarms of skeeters are so thick that as many as 400 cattle have been lost, according to Craig Fontenot, a large-animal veterinarian based in Ville Platte, Louisiana.

The clouds of mosquitos have left animals such as horses, deer and cattle anemic and bleeding under their skins from all the bites, Fontenot told The Associated Press.

The animals are getting exhausted from constantly moving in an attempt to avoid being bit, Fontenot added.

Jeremy Hebert, an agent at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, told WWL-TV that he knows several cattle owners who lost as many as eight animals and that he’s heard about three horse deaths that were also mosquito-related.

Luckily for humans, the species of mosquitoes that are swarming don’t transmit human diseases easily, veterinarian Christine Navarre told USA Today.

Recent spraying seems to have thinned the hordes of mosquitoes, agents for LSU AgCenter told WWL-TV.

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Experts in southwest Louisiana say clouds of mosquitoes since Hurricane Laura are killing cattle and horses.
Dr. Craig Fontenot via AP

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Before You Go

18 Home 'Cures' For Mosquito Bites
When The Bugs Bite(01 of18)
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For immediate relief, try an antihistamine cream or stick to help the itch and swelling. Don’t have any in stock? Hit the kitchen, and hold a refrigerated, dampened green tea bag on the bite, recommends Everyday Health skin and beauty expert Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist in Los Angeles and author of Feed Your Face. The cold helps soothe the itch and compounds in the tea help with inflammation.” Another option: Take a soak in a soothing oatmeal bath. (credit:Alamy)
A Little Honey, Honey(02 of18)
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“[I use] honey because it has antiseptic ingredient.” — Atm Shahidul HoqueDr. Wu says: “Honey has an antibacterial ingredient, so theoretically it could help prevent a bite from getting infected. But the sweetness could attract more bites!” (credit:Alamy)
Sticky Solution(03 of18)
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“[I use] Scotch tape.” — Tammy Mah UngDr. Wu says: “Putting Scotch tape (or a bandage) on the bite will help remind you not to scratch, especially at night. If you scratch too hard, you could break the skin and introduce an infection.” (credit:Alamy)
That's Bananas (04 of18)
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“Rub the bite with banana peel.” — Nancy ClarkDr. Wu says: “I’m not sure about this one. Bananas are fragrant, so they’re likely to attract bees and mosquitoes.” (credit:Alamy)
Ever-Popular Aloe Vera(05 of18)
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“Aloe vera will draw the sting out.” — Tonya JenkinsDr. Wu says: “Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties, so this could help the itch. For even more relief, stash your aloe vera gel in the fridge, since the cold will also help with the itchiness.” (credit:Alamy)
Relief That Keeps Going and Going...(06 of18)
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“My husband learned this in the military and taught it to me: For spider, bee, wasp, and ant bites, take a 9-volt battery, and wet the [bitten] area a little bit. Put battery to the bitten area, and it will stop the action of poison and stop the hurt. I used it for a spider bite today.” — Brenda GannDr. Wu says: “The military guys have it right. Electric current has been shown to inactivate snake venom. And wetting the battery enhances the conductivity so more current goes through your skin. So it may also help venom from other bugs. However, mosquitoes don’t inject venom, so it wouldn’t help there.” (credit:Alamy)
Tenderize It(07 of18)
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“I [mix water and] meat tenderizer into a paste.” — Natacha HarveyDr. Wu says: “Meat tenderizer contains papain, which helps break down protein. Venoms are made of protein, so theoretically it could help break down venom from insect stings, although this hasn’t been proven. And it wouldn’t help relieve mosquito bites since they don’t inject venom.” (credit:Alamy)
Try Preparation H(08 of18)
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“Preparation H takes care of swelling and itching.” — Patricia McKinneyDr. Wu says: “This topical treatment can help reduce inflammation and may help with itching.”
Rubbing Alcohol Relief(09 of18)
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“Rubbing alcohol takes the itch away and the bite too.” — Lori Carley“[I use] rubbing alcohol (and also witch hazel and tea tree oil). If it burns, I just tell my boys, that the alcohol is killing the ‘bug poison!’” — Kit Bowden Powers“Hand sanitizers work pretty well, and you don't need a lot.” — Robin Kirk HeizykDr. Wu says: “Rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, and tea tree oil have antiseptic properties, so they could help prevent bites from getting infected. And their stinging sensation helps distract you from the itch. Hand sanitizers with alcohol will act in the same way.” (credit:Alamy)
Drying Solutions(10 of18)
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“I make a paste with baking soda and apply it to the bite. The baking soda draws out the junk from the bug! It works really well.” — Heather Pinchbeck“I rub a little dab of toothpaste on insect bites. [It] takes the itch out! My aunt taught me this about 40 years ago!” — Debbie Cavaliere JenkinsDr. Wu says: “Baking soda dries into a paste, which dries out the skin, but you can’t draw out the [anticoagulating] saliva that the mosquito injects. The same goes for toothpaste. It has a drying effect but won’t soothe a bite.” (credit:Alamy)
Citrus Solution(11 of18)
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“Lemon or lime rubbed on the bite.” — Robbi CynkusDr. Wu says: “I’d be worried that this would be fragrant to the bugs, which could attract them.” (credit:Alamy)
X Marks The Spot(12 of18)
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“A good remedy of my grandma's was putting an X in the middle of the bite [with your fingernails]. It always seemed to work.” — Sherri JeffriesDr. Wu says: “Pressing down on a bite — and causing some pain — helps distract from the itching. But don’t press too hard, since breaking the skin could lead to infection.” (credit:Alamy)
Soothing Basil(13 of18)
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“I just learned that I rub a basil leaf on my mosquito bites, and it stops itching. I wish I had known this when my daughter was little because I am amazed much this works.” — Debora Ann MillerDr. Wu says: “Basil has been shown to repel mosquitoes. It does have anti-inflammatory properties, which could help the swelling.” (credit:Alamy)
Pretty Polish(14 of18)
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“Fingernail polish! Clear is best, but if it itches enough, any colour will do.” — Kerry JohnstonDr. Wu says: “I don’t recommend this. Some people are allergic to ingredients in polish. Even if they’re not allergic to it on their fingernails, it could cause a reaction when applied to skin.” (credit:Alamy)
Try An Aspirin Paste(15 of18)
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“For stings, I use crushed aspirin mixed with a smidge of water to make a paste that I dab right on. It takes the sting right away.” — Kris Ruff BrockDr. Wu says: “Aspirin contains acetyl salicylic acid, which is anti-inflammatory. It doesn’t hurt to try.” (credit:Alamy)
A Swish Of Listerine(16 of18)
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“I use regular Listerine for itchy bug bites.”— Brenda BlackDr. Wu says: “It has menthol, which cools the skin to help relieve itch.” (credit:Alamy)
My Big Fat Bottle Of Windex(17 of18)
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“[I use] Windex!” — Karla HouseDr. Wu says: “There’s nothing in Windex that would relieve itching or swelling, so this only works if you’re a cast member of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding.'” (credit:Alamy)
Potato, Pot-Ahhhh-To(18 of18)
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“Cut a potato and rub it on the bite.” — Barbara BowlingDr. Wu says: “I don’t see why rubbing a potato would work at relieving mosquito bites.” (credit:Alamy)
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