June 24, 2019 – Fight the bite! Nevada County Environmental Health recommends remembering the D’s of mosquito control: Drain, Dress, Defend, Dawn and Dusk.
To help control your mosquito population, stop by Environmental Health’s last Mosquito Fish Giveaway on Thursday, June 27th, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. Can’t make it? Call Environmental Health Vector Control at (530) 265-1500 for information on how get mosquito fish or for help with treatments through the summer season.
Remember the D’s of mosquito control: Drain, Dress, Defend, Dawn and Dusk
DRAIN: Empty out anything in your yard that collects water where mosquitoes can breed.
DRESS: Your wardrobe matters if you want to fight the bite. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing — preferably, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
DEFEND: Use an EPA-approved insect repellant whenever going outdoors.
DAWN and DUSK: The World Health Organization says that the peak biting periods for mosquitoes are early in the morning and in the evening before dusk. If possible minimize time spent outdoors during these periods.
The Nevada County Environmental Health Department Vector Control Program provides information on: 1) West Nile virus and precautions people can take to minimize the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes and 2) how to eliminate mosquito-breeding areas on your property. Mosquito control information can be found at: https://www.mynevadacounty.com/2204/Mosquito-and-Vector-Control
The mosquito fish need to be delivered to your pond within a two-hour period. The fish are not native to California and should not be placed into moving bodies of water like creeks or streams. The fish will eat mosquito larvae in ponds, watering troughs, bird baths, and unused swimming pools.
In situations where a property has temporary, seasonal ponds, drainages or ditches and they cannot be manually drained, store-bought bacterial larvacide products such as BTI can be used. Most home-use larvacide products are harmless to the environment and will not hurt people, pets, or wildlife when used properly and according to label directions. These products can often be found at various hardware, garden or pond supply stores. Also, the Nevada County Environmental Health Department provides on-site service visits for treatment requests. Call the Vector Control Program at 530-265-1500.