The City of Green River will commence
efforts to control mosquito populations in town. The Parks and Recreation Department
will place “BTI biscuits” in areas of standing water on City property. These
biscuits prevent mosquito larvae from developing and becoming biting adults.
The week of June 10, pending weather conditions, aerial applications of a
granule called Vectobac will commence over large areas of standing water in and
around the City of Green River. The active ingredient in Vectobac is naturally occurring,
safe for municipal use, and targets mosquito and
fly larvae.
As biting adult mosquitoes become
present in large populations in the City, personnel will spray areas of the
city using a truck-mounted ultra-low
volume aerosol fogger. Fogging occurs between the hours of 9:00 pm and 1:00
am. The schedule and map for residential spraying can be found on the
City’s website www.cityofgreenriver.org. The City uses a spray formulation that
contains the pesticide product Biomist to control the mosquitoes. The active
ingredient in Biomist is permethrin. This
product eliminates adult mosquitos while they are active and has an extremely
low residual. Adult mosquito populations need to be high and active for the
product to be effective. Mosquito control applications of permethrin do not
pose a significant risk to people or pets due to the low toxicity of the spray
and small amount used to control mosquitoes. As with any pesticide, people
and pets should minimize exposure. If residents see the spray truck next to
their yards, they are advised to go indoors, close windows and turn off cooling
units for a few minutes while the spray dissipates.
Despite
all of the City’s efforts, mosquito populations can be difficult to control. If
residents leave areas of standing water on their properties, mosquitoes will be
present. Common sources of mosquito habitat include clogged rain gutters,
overwatered lawns, bird baths, ponds, horse troughs, and overgrowth of weeds or
grass. A female mosquito only needs water in the amount of a bottle cap to lay
her eggs. While enjoying activities or working outdoors during Wyoming’s warmer
months, residents should avoid mosquitos because they can spread potentially
serious disease. According to the Wyoming Department of Health, mosquitos
spread West Nile virus (WNV) when they feed on infected birds and then bite
people, animals, and other birds.
The “5 D’s” of West Nile virus
prevention include:
- DAWN and DUSK – Mosquitos prefer to feed at dawn or dusk,
so avoid spending time outside during these times.
- DRESS – Wear shoes, socks,
long pants and a long-sleeved shirt outdoors. Clothing should be light-colored
and made of tightly woven materials.
- DRAIN – Mosquitos breed in shallow,
stagnant water. Reduce the amount of standing water by draining and/or
removing.
- DEET – Use an insect repellent containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide). When using DEET, be
sure to read and follow label instructions. Other insect repellents such as
Picaridin (KBR 3023) or oil of lemon eucalyptus can also be effective.
The mosquito control schedule,
chemical information and things you can do to prevent mosquitoes can be found
on the City’s website, www.cityofgreenriver.org.
For further questions or to be added to the “no-spray”
list please contact the Parks Administration Office at (307)872-6151.