Nevada City, CA — Nevada County’s Environmental Health Department announces five (5) Mosquito Fish Giveaways, which will occur on Wednesdays and Thursdays starting May 9 and ending July 11.
“Mosquito fish consume a lot of insect larvae in ponds or other standing bodies of water,” explained Amy Irani, Environmental Health Director. “By reducing the mosquito population in larvae form, you can reduce the mosquito population and your risk of contracting mosquito- borne diseases, including the West Nile Virus.”
To “fight the bite,” remove standing water in your garden or yard by flipping over buckets, pots, tires, and bins. Amy continued, “We all play a role in minimizing suitable breeding grounds and thereby reducing the risk of infection.”
Details
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: In the Eric Rood Administrative Building Parking Lot (950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City)
How to Participate:
- Drive-thru pick-ups only; please remain in your car. Containers will be provided to take the fish home safely.
- The mosquito fish must be delivered to your pond within two hours. The fish will eat mosquito larvae in ponds, watering troughs, birdbaths, and unused swimming pools.
Dates
- Thursday, May 9
- Wednesday, May 22
- Thursday, June 13
- Wednesday, June 26
- Thursday, July 11
About Mosquito Fish & the Best Environments for Them to Thrive
These fish are not native; they are invasive species. These fish are only meant for closed/stagnant ponds and should not be placed into ponds that can drain into the local creeks and streams. This can have negative impacts on the native ecosystem. If your pond has outlets, please do not acquire these fish.
If your pond already has larger fish, you don’t need mosquito fish. The larger fish will eat the smaller mosquito fish. Also, the larger fish will eat mosquito larvae, and certainly, their smaller offspring will eat larvae too. Nevada County Environmental Health can inspect your water source and offer other options.
In situations where a property has temporary, seasonal ponds, drainages, or ditches and they cannot be manually drained, store-bought bacterial larvicide products such as BTI can be used. Most home-use larvicide products are harmless to the environment and will not hurt people, pets, or wildlife when used properly and according to label directions. These products are often 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.
To learn more about vector management, visit our page on Mosquito Fish.