It could be argued that there are two seasons in Saskatchewan, winter and mosquitoes. Mosquito control efforts in the city are underway to try to decrease the nuisance, and crews are going out across Yorkton to keep track of any standing water.
The process is a relatively simple one, explains Brian Dudar, Parks and Area Manager for the City of Yorkton. Crews go out to standing water and do a test to find if any mosquito larvae are present. If they are there, the water is treated with a biological product called Vectobac. The product works as a bacteria, which is deadly to mosquito larvae but harmless to any other animals which might drink out of the water.
The wet spring has introduced new challenges for mosquito control, Dudar says. Just finding all of the standing water is a challenge in itself, Dudar explains. While standing water doesn't necessarily mean there will be mosquitoes present, Dudar notes, the quantity of it makes it difficult to find all of the possible locations.
"Residents should be aware that mosquito activity is going to be huge or high over the next month, and there are certainly other things they can do to prevent contact with mosquitoes, such as bug spray, longer clothing, and avoiding when the mosquitoes are out," Dudar says.
Dudar encourages people in the city to take efforts in their own yards to deal with mosquitoes. He says people should check anywhere around their home which might hold water, including ponds, old tires, cans, and even eaves, which he describes as a great place for mosquitoes to develop. Products similar to the type used by the city called Aquabac are available at local hardware stores, but Dudar recommends not having water standing around as well.
"If they don't need the water, it's a good idea to just spill it out," Dudar says.
The pest which is most worrying is the Culex tarsails mosquito, which carries the West Nile Virus. Dudar explains that particular species generally shows up in late July and early August, and current control efforts are focused on species which are more annoying than a threat. Keeping on top of all the standing water early on helps keep the entire population in check.
A recent commitment from the province of $1.1 million is welcome relief, says Dudar, as it allows mosquito control to be at the level it has been in previous years. There had been some worry after funding from the province was cut, but the one-time funding allows the program to continue.
"It certainly puts the city of Yorkton in a better position to provide a control program similar to last year," Dudar says.
The province also recently announced that additional funding will be provided to certain municipalities, including Yorkton, to control the spread of West Nile virus and provide targeted controls for the Culex Tarsails mosquito.
Control is weather dependent, however, explains Dudar. A dry summer from here on out could make a big change in the control efforts necessary.
"The best control is mother nature. If the standing water pools can dry up, so do the larvae, so the efforts are not required to do an intensive program," Dudar explains.
People interested in knowing more about mosquito control, West Nile Virus and what they can do in and around their own home can visit health.gov.sk.ca.
