May 17, 2007

• The city received 0.92 in of rain last week. The mosquito activity scale is at a 1. Trap counts increased significantly from last week due to last week’s rainfall and warmer temperatures.

• 10 CDC style traps were set this week, with a total of 700 mosquitoes caught, for an average of 70 per trap.
• Last weeks rain showers are keeping us busy checking standing water. In most cases the ground is soaking up most of the rain rather quickly. Artificial containers (including tires, buckets, tarps, birdbaths, etc.) are not drying up; these areas need to be dumped out to prevent mosquito breeding.

• We had no service requests this week.
• Service requests are low, with only five calls so far this 2007 season. Most calls are in regard to standing water or clogged ditches that have potential to breed mosquitoes.

• Staff are systematically inspecting and treating potential mosquito breeding sites thought the city.
• There are no adult mosquito spraying operations scheduled at this time.

• Birdbaths may be pretty and help beautify your yard, but they also make excellent mosquito breeders. Be sure to dump and clean your birdbath at least once a week. We recommend scrubbing them with a mild bleach solution. This should help prevent mosquito eggs laid in your birdbath from hatching. Home remedies, such as the penny in the birdbath DO NOT kill mosquito larvae. Keeping the water clean helps keep a backyard mosquito free, and is healthier for the birds.