Friday, Apr. 16, 2010

Mosquito season is already under way

The Madera County Mosquito and Vector Control District Manager Leonard Irby reminds people in the Chowchilla area that "mosquito season is upon us."

The District has a mandate to reduce adult mosquito populations in order to minimize the public's risks to mosquito-borne disease. All of the mosquito adulticides used by the district personnel and registered with and approved for use in mosquito control programs by the California EPA, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the California Department of Public Health. The District has and will continue to use mosquito adulticides as a last resort only, and in the lowest application rates possible. to achieve acceptable results. Most large-scale adulticide applications are performed in the early morning hours between 3 and 5 a.m. Residential areas are avoided except in cases of emergency involving immediate public risk to mosquito borne disease.

According to Irby, "It appears that this is going to be a wet year and our technicians started to spray standing water on March 15."

They have also started to take dead bird calls. "I would like to remind the residents that they should call 1-800-WNV-BIRD if they have a fresh dead bird on their property so that they can test for West Nile Virus."

The Madera County Mosquito and Vector Control District has plenty of mosquito fish available for pick-up.

They stock area permanent ponds with mosquito fish, and make a concerted effort to stock semi-permanent bodies of water within the District's boundaries beginning in March and April of every year. The mosquito fish, proven to be efficient predator of mosquito larvae, has a wide range of temperature tolerance and will thrive unless it's water is highly polluted.

Residents are asked to call first to ensure the availability so that they can accommodate orders. They also offer free delivery of fish if they are within the district boundary.

Also if they notice a green swimming pool let the Madera County Mosquito and Vector Control District know. They handle swimming pool calls with anonymity.

"And always if you notice more mosquitoes than usual call the main office at 674-6729 or use the website to place a service request which is Maderamosq.org.