The abundance of rain this summer has made conditions even more favourable for mosquitos. The Town of Kindersley utilizes several methods of mosquito control to reduce the nuisance of mosquitos and help prevent threats to public health.

Every year, Public Works treats standing water within a 5 km radius of Kindersley with a biological control agent known as Vectobac. All standing water (in ditches, sloughs, near railway tracks, tree holes, gutters, sewage lagoons, culverts, etc.) is surveyed and treated on a regular basis by employees specifically trained to apply the product. The product kills larvae eggs but does not cause harm to any other species that prey on mosquitos. The amount of Vectobac used is determined by the amount of larvae discovered when the water is tested.

The Parks Department is also making extra effort this summer to keep grass as short as possible so as to prevent mosquitos from harbouring in the tall grass. Additionally, an organic product made primarily of garlic juice is sprayed on grass, trees, and flowerbeds to combat adult mosquitos already hatched. This produced has a distinct garlic smell that lingers for several hours, but it is completely biodegradable and works to both kill and repel mosquitos for up to four weeks. It also helps repel other pests such as ticks.

Throughout the summer on a weekly basis, the Town also traps mosquitos and sends the samples to the Province of Saskatchewan for disease testing. So far, all mosquitos trapped and tested from Kindersley have tested negative for West Nile Virus.

Spraying

Widespread spraying with adulticides known as “rescue spraying” is only used as a last resort as per legislative guidelines.  When spraying occurs public notice of the area(s) will be posted on the Town of Kindersley website.

Mosquito Control at Home

There are a number of measures residents can take to help with mosquito control at home. These include:

  • Keeping your lawn cut low. Mosquitos like to hide in tall grass or other vegetation.
  • Eliminating unnecessary places where rainwater collects and stands. Check and empty items such as flower pots, children’s wading pools, birdbaths and fountains, clogged gutters and drains, cans and bottles, old car tires, fish ponds, rain  barrels, tree holes and any other items in your yard that may hold water.
  • Filling holes and depressions where you find standing water.
  • Purchasing a larvaecide product from your local hardware or building stores to treat standing water or consider spraying shrubs and flower beds with a pyrethium based insecticide.

For more informationo on mosquito control, click here or visit http://www.mosquitoworld.net/.