This Winter’s Rain is a Recipe for Mosquitoes Unless You Act Now
So far this year in Contra Costa County, for every day of rain, we’ve had approximately two mostly dry days. Of course, the rain can provide mosquitoes with plenty of standing water where they can lay their eggs and produce more mosquitoes; however, those dry days allow Contra County residents to get out in their yards to dump and scrub. The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District (District) reminds you to dump out standing water and scrub the containers to remove any sticky mosquito eggs. Those containers can be anything from discarded soda cans and water bottle lids to buckets, wheelbarrows, toys, tools, and any other outdoor item that can hold rainwater.
And don’t forget the rain gutters. District employees have recently seen gutters that looked more like gardens, with weeds growing out of the metal gutters. So, remember to clean or have someone clean out those gutters regularly to prevent rainwater from failing to drain properly and attracting mosquitoes.
If after you’ve dumped and scrubbed the containers and cleaned out the gutters and still experience mosquitoes on your property, Contra Costa County residents can request the District’s mosquito service by phone at 925-685-9301 or online at http://www.ContraCostaMosquito.com.
By making good use of the dry days we have in between the rain, we can all take important steps to protect public health by reducing the risk of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases for ourselves, our family members, and our pets.
Romick in Oakley 