Community Corner
Lutherville-Timonium Mosquitoes on High Alert: National Mosquito Control Awareness Week Brings Mosquitoes to Forefront
What You Need to Know to Keep Safe and Enjoy Outdoor Living
Extreme and warm weather conditions are creating a perfect storm for a bumper crop of mosquitoes and potentially dangerous West Nile Virus this season. June 23-29 is “National Mosquito Control Awareness Week,” sponsored by the American Mosquito Control Association, designed to alert us to what we can do to protect ourselves when outdoors this summer.
Due to the unseasonably stormy start of summer and wet conditions, mosquitoes are already out in full force and several parts of the country have tested positive for the West Nile Virus (WNV), which is carried by mosquitoes. Recently released statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that a total of 5,674 cases of WNV disease in people, including 286 deaths, were reported to CDC in 2012.
Find out what's happening in Lutherville-Timoniumwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The local experts at Mosquito Squad of Northeastern Baltimore (www.mosquitosquad.com) say, “it’s inevitable that mosquitoes are going to be outside but what we can help control is how we can keep them away from our outdoor living spaces.” Derek Czajkowski from Mosquito Squad offers five strategies for mosquito control, including:
1. TIP. Reduce standing water to eliminate mosquito threats, including those in children’s sandboxes, wagons or plastic toys; underneath and around downspouts, in plant saucers and dog bowls. Other hot spots include gutters, flat roofs and low lying ground under decks and porches.
Find out what's happening in Lutherville-Timoniumwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
2. TOSS. Remove excess grass, leaves, firewood and clippings from yards. Lawn debris can create places for water to accumulate.
3. TURN. Turn over larger yard items that could hold water like children’s portable sandboxes or plastic toys.
4. REMOVE TARPS. If tarps stretched over firewood piles, boats or sports equipment and grills aren’t taut, they’re holding water. Remember to shake out tarps immediately following a rain storm.
5. TREAT. Utilize a mosquito elimination barrier treatment around the home and yard. Using a barrier treatment at home reduces the need for using DEET-containing bug spray on the body. Mosquito Squad’s eliminates up to 90% of the mosquitoes and ticks on a property.
For more tips on mosquitoes and ticks: nebaltimore.mosquitosquad.com
