re: #52 Dread Pirate Ron

West Nile virus has been in our area for 20 years. A couple people get it each year. They test dead birds here for the virus. I get bit by mosquitos occasionally in the bay area but usually don’t react much. I was raised on Manitoba mosquitos.

I was raised on Michigan mosquitos and black flies.

Mosquitos in the Panhandle tend to be near the North Platte River, Pumpkin Creek, or irrigation canals, since everything else here is Sandhills desert.

Irrigation canals generally run alongside the North Platte River, built since the area was settled by ranchers and farmers to expand watered land more than a few feet from the river.

My town however has the Beerline Canal running through it (and right by my house) into the Sandhills, so we have nice close stagnant water to breed mosquitos.

For whatever it’s worth though, my house abstract and deed note we have perpetual unlimited drawing rights from the Beerline Canal “for drinking and other purposes.”

I’ll pass on drinking from the canal, but who knows, perhaps those water rights might be worth something some day.