BROOKINGS — By the time you read this, many mosquitos will be on the verge of death. And not too soon.
Recent wet and humid weather created ideal conditions for a mosquito outbreak. To help with population control, the city plans citywide ground fogging between 8 p.m. and midnight Tuesday. The treatment areas will include bike trails and parks.
Pioneer Park will also receive additional treatment later this week in preparation for the Brookings Summer Arts Festival.
“Crews likely will follow up with fogging efforts later this week in hopes of mitigating the mosquito population for outdoor weekend activities, including various baseball tournaments and the Brookings Summer Arts Festival at Pioneer Park,” said John Thompson, the public works director.
Since May, the Street Division has proactively treated ponds and wet areas throughout the city with mosquito larvicide in an attempt to kill larvae before they develop into biting adult mosquitos.
“Unfortunately, the combination of frequent rains and warm temperatures have created the ideal environment for the mosquito population to explode,” Mr. Thompson said. “Community members can help our mosquito mitigation efforts by removing sources of standing water in their yards.”
According to the city, the ground-fogging equipment is noisy and travels at speeds ranging from 10 to 15 mph. Thompson stated that the mosquito-control pickups are clearly marked and travel with flashing amber and white lights, making them easily identifiable.
Although mosquito-control insecticides are low-risk, some people may prefer to limit or avoid exposure to these chemicals. Staying indoors during the fogging activity and closing windows and doors are two common-sense precautions that can reduce exposure.
Inclement weather or winds greater than 15 mph will cause the City to suspend fogging and reschedule it for another day.
