Work is now underway to help minimize the number of mosquitoes that could infest the area in the spring and summer across the City of Cranbrook.
The City, through its contractor Morrow Bioscience Limited is working to complete the first treatment directed at mosquitoes in the larval stage by hand placing the granular larvicide Aquabac onto sites around Cranbrook where mosquito larvae have been found.
This product is registered for use in Canada, which has a naturally occurring bacteria that specifically targets mosquito larvae, but is not harmful to birds, mammals, beneficial insects, or amphibians. This treatment process using Aquabac has been used in and around Cranbrook for well over a decade.
Potential mosquito breeding sites will be continually monitored and treated as needed throughout the year. Keeping standing water to a minimum around your home or property goes a long way to help keep the mosquito population low. Regularly checking and draining standing water is something that everyone can do to help be a part of the solution. Some places to stop standing water include:
• Tires and tarps, canoes and boats, bird baths and feeders
• Untreated or unmaintained pools or ponds, kid’s pools, and toys
• Outside pet dishes, trays under flowerpots and clogged gutters and ditches
To report any potential mosquito development sites or for more information regarding the Mosquito Control Program, call the Mosquito Hotline at (250) 421-1294.