Video: Ride on a mosquito fighting helicopter
MPR News reporter Tim Post put GoPro cameras on board a helicopter fighting mosquitoes in Anoka County and captured some dramatic dives and turns.
It's all in a summer day's work for pilot Dave Ostermann with Scott's Helicopter Services.
Ostermann swoops down over tree tops at 60 miles an hour, dropping a special bacteria on wetlands and flooded areas. It's called bacillus thuringiensis israelensisare. The bacteria is deadly to mosquito larvae, but won't hurt humans, animals and other insects
The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District has been busy fighting the little pests this spring and summer because of record setting rains.
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Ostermann says the work can be dangerous and he's always watching for power lines, waterfowl and bad weather.
Last year a helicopter flying for the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District crashed in Maplewood, killing the pilot.
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