DENVER -- Most Front Range communities plan to rely on smarter tactics, not money, to fight the threat of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus.

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"It's going to be difficult. It's not like there's a lot of money this year," said Jim Dale, director of environmental health for Jefferson County.

However Weld County, which recorded the most bird and horse infections in the state last year, plans to spend almost $745,000 to control mosquitoes this year.

By contrast, Boulder County had been spending more than $200,000 per year on mosquito control before West Nile virus hit, and it expects to spend a little more this year.

Last season was the first in which the virus was detected in Colorado. It was first detected on Aug. 15 and caused 13 nonfatal human illnesses.

Health officials also found the disease in 380 horses, 138 birds, one cat, and one sheep.

The season for mosquito-borne diseases typically begins around mid-July and lasts until mid-September.

Health officials agree killing larvae is the most efficient approach to controlling mosquitoes, since spraying to kill adult insects is expensive and an environmental hazard.

Aurora plans to release minnows into ponds in mid-April to eat larvae. The city is spending $10,000 for mosquito control, the same as last year, said spokeswoman Melissa Elliott. Before 2002, Aurora never paid more than $6,000.

Denver believes an aggressive mosquito-mapping program it launched four years ago will control West Nile virus this season without costing the city any extra dollars, said Diane Milholin, vector control inspector.

Denver's wastewater and parks employees will be trained to look for any concentrations of water in roadside ditches, old tires and even saucers under flower pot.

"A half-cup of water can breed 200 mosquitoes," Milholin said.

Jefferson County is spending $20,000 to map mosquito hot spots east of the Hogback, said Jim Dale, director of environmental health. Health officials will ask commissioners for money beyond the $6,000 spent annually on mosquito control.

The county also keeps two flocks of chickens that it will periodically check for evidence of antibodies built up against West Nile virus.

Lakewood and many north metro cities, including Thornton, Westminster, Federal Heights, Northglenn and Broomfield, have contracts with Colorado Mosquito Control Inc. to map and monitor hot spots, and to dump larvicide.

Thornton will spend just under $20,000 on the larvicide contract, said spokeswoman Jan Dexter-Blunt.

Westminster spent $37,000 last year on mosquito control and is poised to spend an extra $2,000 to $20,000 for additional trapping and spraying this season, if needed, said Richard Dahl, parks services manager.

Arapahoe County and its 13 cities got a late start preparing for the virus.

Richard Vogt, executive director of Tri-County Health, said his team met with Adams and Douglas county officials several months ago to help implement programs, but not with Arapahoe County officials until March.

"We are their largest funding entity, and we didn't get so much as a phone call to individual commissioners about this issue," said Arapahoe County Commissioner Susan Beckman.

The budget for larvae control in unincorporated Arapahoe County will be $10,000 to $20,000.

Littleton will spend $11,000 to $15,000 on larvicide and also will launch an education campaign, said Philip Cortese, deputy city manager.