What’s that buzzing?

Butte County residents might see a few more helicopters in the air starting Thursday (April 24), when the local Mosquito and Vector Control District starts its hunt for unmaintained swimming pools and other mosquito-breeding grounds.

The district will use the Butte County Sheriff’s Office’s helicopter to locate problem areas, with a goal of catching mosquitoes before they’re able to breed.

“It is crucial for the district to locate and treat these suspected mosquito-breeding sources early in the mosquito season to prevent larger populations from hatching off in the summer, when virus is most active,” District Manager Matt Ball said in a press release.

Last year, Butte County saw 24 diagnosed cases of West Nile virus. Health officials expect it to remain a serious concern in 2014.