A wet June might be good for the crops, but it also leaves plenty of puddles behind in Evanston to provide birthing spots for a new batch of mosquitoes. But not to fear. The sprayers are here.
The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District has announced plans to conduct what they call “targeted adult mosquito control operations” along the city’s lakefront tomorrow evening, beginning at 8 p.m. and continuing until the wee hours of Thursday morning, weather permitting.
Already, the district has found the first West Nile virus positive mosquitoes to occur this year, in Glencoe and Lincolnwood.
On the district’s website, there are forms for residents to use to report standing water and dead birds, which helps in the control process.
The district provides these suggestions for homeowners to hold down the breeding process on private property:
1 Collect and properly discard all unused artificial containers and old tires.
2. Place tight covers over rain barrels, cisterns, septic tanks, and other containers that hold water.
3. Change the water in birdbaths and wading pools once a week.
4. Check to see if your children’s toys are holding water and creating a mosquito breeding source.
5. Check flowerpots for mosquito larvae.
6. Properly maintain swimming pools or when not in use, drain and cover them to discourage the development of mosquitoes.
7. Stack pails, barrels, tubs, vases, wheelbarrows, and similar containers upside down so water does not accumulate in them.
8. Cut, remove, and properly discard excess overhanging vegetation along or over the banks of drainage ditches or stagnant slow-moving streams.
9. Eliminate water-holding tree stumps; cut, remove, and properly discard excess vegetation and weeds around lagoons, ponds and similar habitats, so that a shaded canopy of vegetation is not allowed to provide an ideal environment for the development of the mosquito.
10. Clean out debris, broken tree limbs, and objects that impede the normal stream flow so polluted pockets of water do not remain.
11. Fill or drain any low places where water may stand for more than a week.
12. Inspect and clean rain gutters and downspouts if leaves and other debris block them.
13. Clean and properly maintain catch basins that hold water.
Remember, the district warns, if it can hold water, it can breed mosquitoes.