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The buzz around Kimberley

Mosquito control has begun; now is the time to check your property for mosquito habitat
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Mosquito control has begun

As the weather warms up and we head outside, you may have already noticed a few mosquitos flying around. Not to worry about those, says Curtis Fediuk of DG Regan and Associates, who handle Kimberley’s mosquito control, the big ones you see now are remnants of last year’s crop and won’t bite.

They are however, looking for standing water in which to lay the next generation of stingers.

Fediuk is in town now, beginning treatment of ponds with Vectobac, a non-toxic anti-larval application. Vectobac is a preferred treatment because it doesn’t harm any other life in the aquatic habitat.

It’s time to start thinking about mosquitos in your yard and property, Fediuk says.

While DG Regan treats ponds on city and private land around town, mainly up on the ski hill, property owners can do a lot to prevent the next hatch from taking place in their yards.

“The mosquitos that hatch with the snow melt are coming now and our program is up and running,” Fediuk said.

“Our program doesn’t control adult mosquitoes, we treat water bodies. So it’s a good time of year to go around your property, looking for standing water. That’s what most mosquitoes are looking for.”

Even a bucket that has collected rainwater can become a target for mosquitoes. It’s all about minimizing habitat.

While, it has been a relatively low-snow winter, Fediuk says that doesn’t necessarily lead to fewer mosquitoes this spring and summer.

“It depends on how fast the snow melts,” he said. “With less water, there may be permanent ponds that may have been too deep before but now offer a good environment for larvae. It’s tough to predict. The warm weather has them flying early. It’s an very unusual year.”

Fediuk and his team have begun treating ponds around the city. They have it all mapped from the previous year, but if you see an area you think might have been missed you can call the City of Kimberley and report it.

Fediuk says he receives a lot of help from the City and from private land owners.

“I do want to give a shout out to the locals that help us out. Trickle Creek and the Kimberley Alpine Resort are really helpful to the program, giving us ready access to their properties. Mosquitoes don’t stop at fences, so the support for the program is great.”

 



Carolyn Grant

About the Author: Carolyn Grant

I have been with the Kimberley Bulletin since 2001 and have enjoyed every moment of it.
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