City Starts Mosquito Control Operations
The City of Pierre will start its aerial assault on the local mosquito population the evening of May 30.
“Hatching usually starts just a few days after a rain,” said Bryan Tipton, City Parks and Recreation Director. “With the weekend moisture, we’re doing what we can to tamp down the anticipated hatch.”
City fogging operations will begin on May 30. Fogging is used to kill adult mosquitoes and is only one technique the City uses to control the mosquito population.
“We also larvicide to eliminate the mosquitoes before they hatch. We do that through a ground treatment in parks and sports fields,” said Tipton. “We’ll start larviciding soon too.”
Tipton says the third and most effective way to control the mosquito population is to eliminate their breeding habitats. Home owners should empty out bird baths, tire swings, and any outdoor containers that collect and hold water. A small puddle can produce thousands of mosquitoes.
Tipton said, “Our staff clears water from public property often, but we can’t go on private property. We need property owners to manage their own space.”
The City sets and monitors mosquito traps each year to help identify the best times to ramp up mosquito control operations.
“We start monitoring activity early in the season, and we’ll continue to check traps as long as breeding conditions are favorable,” said Tipton. “Mosquitoes don’t stop because the school year starts back up. They’ll keep breeding as long as the weather allows.”