El Paso Zoo closes Monday to address biting black fly problem

The El Paso Zoo closed at 2:30 p.m. on Monday to allow pest control to address a biting black fly problem.

Zoo officials said they’ve seen an unprecedented high number of biting black flies.

The flies have disrupted the comfort of zoo animals and visitors alike.

“It’s more for our animals and their welfare that we are looking out for. We want to make sure we’re taken care of,” zoo official Leonore Wilson said.

Zoo officials said two zoo birds have been hospitalized as a result of the insect problem.

“I have noticed that there’s an excessive amount of flies,” visitor Amanda Fitzgerald said. “I think it’s actually good that they’re not just worried about making money and they’re actually going to close the zoo down to fix the problem. There’s a lot of children that come in and out of here and it’s not good.”

Pest control will utilize an insecticide that acts as a fog.

Zoo officials said veterinarians will work with pest control to make sure the zoo animals will not be affected by the pesticide.

“It’s a low level of toxicity to our mammals and our birds. We will bring everything in to their night homes,” Wilson said.