HUNTING — Before last weekend, I had no trouble sitting still waiting for a gobbler to work its way in to a call.

But Wednesday it was taken by surprise with the hatch of mosquitoes triggered by the recent warm spell.

I didn't have repellent. 

Sitting still required more effort, looking down my shotgun barrel with the blurred silhouette of a skeeter rump on my nose.

OUTDOOR HAZARDS — Officials in eastern Idaho’s Gem County say mosquitoes collected this week tested positive for West Nile virus. 

This follows a report in mid-August that the virus was found in a Mosquito near Yakima.

Idaho's Gem County Mosquito Abatement District director Jason Kinley says a small number of mosquitoes are infected. The district is treating any standing water that is producing mosquitoes and spraying to control adult mosquitoes.

 West Nile virus is a mosquito and bird disease. Animals and people can be infected when bitten by a female mosquito infected with the virus. 

Kinley says because it’s so late in the season, it’s not likely the virus will spread throughout the district before cold weather kills the insects.

According to the Center for Disease Control:

Most people bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile virus show no symptoms, while about 10 percent develop West Nile fever. Less than 1 percent suffer an infected brain or spinal cord.

OUTDOOR HAZARDS — The state Health Department says the West Nile virus was found in a mosquito collected Tuesday in Yakima County — the first sign of the disease this year in Washington.

No human cases have been identified this year, but there were two last year, and a 38 people in the state were sickened in 2009 by the virus, which is carried by birds and mosquitoes.

Most people bitten by a mosquito with the virus won't become ill, but some people with weak immune systems risk serious illness.

The department recommends wearing bug repellant and long pants and long sleeves when outdoors.