The mosquitoes are already prevalent in areas of the Cascades. And they’re hungry.

“They’re out, and they’re out in force,” said Sandie Campbell, owner of Cultus Lake Resort. “If anybody’s coming up to the woods, bring bug juice.”

It’s earlier than normal for the blood-suckers to start hatching around Cultus Lake, she said. But these days, once the afternoon rains clear up, the mosquitoes hatch and start flying.

Across Central Oregon, mosquito season is creeping up on hikers and campers. And as one company starts spraying for mosquitoes along the Deschutes River, reports from elsewhere in Central Oregon are mixed — although health officials are again advising people to take precautions against West Nile, a disease spread by mosquitoes that in severe cases can cause neurological damage or death.

The Four Rivers Vector Control District has already noticed an increase in mosquito-related calls compared with last year, said Chad Stubblefield, the control district’s manager.

Crews with the district have made three trips to the Little Deschutes River to treat mosquito hatches, he said. With snow melting, then stopping, then melting again, the river level is fluctuating up and down — with different batches of mosquitoes hatching at each step.

“It’s kind of made for a good year for the mosquitoes,” Stubblefield said.

And just last week, he treated the first batch of mosquito larvae along the Deschutes River.

Adult mosquitoes lay eggs in the late summer in grasses along the river banks, he said. And when the water gets into the eggs the following spring or summer, the young larvae hatch.

More than two dozen species of mosquitoes buzz around Deschutes County, said Andy Eglitis, entomologist with the Deschutes National Forest.

While they all need water as a part of their life cycle, they have specific needs — some bite large animals, others small ones; some fly long distances, others stay in a small area.

“They’re a lot more diverse than probably most people realize,” he said.

At Elk Lake, the mosquitoes are just now starting to come to life, said Jay Walsh, manager of Elk Lake Resort.

“June is usually the worst month for mosquitoes at Elk Lake,” Walsh said, although the lake doesn’t see too many overall, he added. “Once July hits, they start to fade.”

Joann Frazee, owner of Lava Lake Resort, said hatches don’t seem too bad this year: “Usually I can tell because the mosquito repellent pours out of here,” she said.

And at Twin Lakes Resort, owner Joie Frazee said he’s set up bat boxes to attract a natural predator to the buzzing insects.

“I encourage them to be around; they’re definitely our ally,” he said.

Still, Chris Sabo, trails specialist with the Deschutes National Forest, expects the numbers of mosquitoes to start picking up at the higher elevations in coming days and weeks.

“June and July are pretty much the peak months for them typically,” Sabo said.

But if the area continues to get rain and a cool spring allows the snowpack that’s left in the mountains to hang on longer than normal, it could make for a longer-lasting season, he said. If the snowpack keeps meadows damp, ponds filled and creeks running later into the summer, mosquitoes have more breeding grounds.

“My gut feeling is it’s maybe a bit of a prolonged season for them because the snow is a little persistent,” he said.

And the best way to avoid them, he said, is to go hiking in December, January, or February. Snowshoes might be required, but he’s never seen a mosquito in the mountains then.

“The later in the season, the less likely you’re going to encounter them,” Sabo said. “Fall is some of the finest time for hiking, from the bug standpoint.”

Other ways to escape the itchy welts are by standing in a windy spot, heading for higher ground above the tree line, covering up, and putting on mosquito repellent and reapplying regularly.

“It’s part of the experience,” Sabo said of mosquitoes. “There’s worse things than mosquitoes, just be prepared for them. … We tell folks, ‘Don’t feed the wildlife,’ and that does include the mosquitoes.”

The Deschutes County Health Department echoes that sentiment, said Shannon Dames, community health manager.

To avoid the possibility of contracting West Nile, people should wear a good repellent, such as ones that contain DEET, and get rid of standing water in backyards at least once a week, she said.

Deschutes County hasn’t had any documented West Nile cases among residents, Dames said, but it has popped up in neighboring counties and the possibility of local cases is still present.

“We want people to be aware that it’s our turn, to not get too lax about prevention with mosquitoes,” she said.