Mosquito spraying coming, but when?
Although an exact schedule is not feasible, city officials are warning citizens mosquito spraying activities are on the way.
Public Works director Bill Brock said he expects crews will begin spraying for the pests with the chemical malathion within the next few weeks, most likely beginning in June.
In response to questions from residents who have wondered if the city could tell them when crews might be around, Brock said an exact schedule would be impossible to predict, since the department sprays around low-lying areas where standing water invites mosquitos to breed and also responds as needed. Crews typically try to cover the entire city once a week and work on nights, he said.
The city uses a fogger, which is said to kill mosquito larvae and repel mosquitoes. Brock said the biggest thing residents can do to discourage mosquito activity on individual properties is eliminate standing water around their homes, where mosquitos breed.
Spraying for mosquitoes is something the city has done as a service to residents for several years. Recently, the threat of the spread of West Nile Virus from mosquitoes to humans has brought new attention to the yearly activity.