07/12/2024
INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC
COLUSA MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT
The Colusa Mosquito Abatement District has been serving the people of Colusa and surrounding areas for more than 65 years. Established in 1958, the District has gone through many changes in the mosquito control industry. The District currently uses advanced control equipment and products which are registered with the EPA, and follows a strict Integrated Pest Management program. The certified personnel have the responsibilities to maintain mosquito populations to low levels, within the Districts 160 square miles.
The Colusa Mosquito Abatement District has begun it’s control program for the 2024-25 mosquito season. The effort consists primarily of a spray program to control adult mosquitoes using truck mounted foggers in the urban, rural, agricultural and wetland areas of the District, starting in late May. Also, aerial control of adult mosquitoes will be conducted by aircraft in the wetland and duck club areas within the District. As in the past, the spray program will use materials registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. The District also has a Larvicide program to control the immature stages of the mosquito, and will place larvicides in the catch basins throughout the District during the later spring months. Catch basins that maintain standing water throughout the mosquito season can be a major source of urban mosquitoes.
The Colusa Mosquito Abatement District is currently asking property owners within its District boundaries to vote on a measure for a benefit assessment to help with additional funding for the District. Ballots and measure information went out the first week in June and are to be mailed back before July 29th.
The District is currently funded primarily by a small portion of ad valorem property taxes and a special tax approved by voters in 2014. However, the current funding has not kept pace with the increased demand for mosquito control services in the last few years. In addition, cost increases associated with controlling West Nile Virus and increased surveillance of invasive species, such as Yellow Fever mosquito and Asian Tiger mosquito, have further stressed the District’s limited budget.
With the introduction of the two new invasive mosquito species to California that can transmit Dengue Fever and Chikungunya Virus, the District is asking homeowners to help by inspecting homes and yards thoroughly and remove any standing water that may cause mosquito production. These new species prefer breeding in very small containers that do not require much water, so this would be a very important part of helping the District reduce mosquito numbers. Water is necessary for three of the four life stages of the mosquito. The egg, larvae, and pupae are aquatic. The fourth stage is the adult mosquito. In the summer, the four stages of the mosquito life cycle may require as few as three to four days to mature, while in cooler periods of the year they require several weeks to become adults.
By a thorough inspection of the premises, various standing water situations could be found, such as fish ponds, bird baths, tin cans, water cans, saucers under potted plants, old tires, clogged roof gutters, abandon pools, boats, ornamental ponds, watering troughs, rain barrels, street gutters, house coolers units, tree holes, leaking faucets and water in basements or under the house (especially in heavy rain fall years and seepage years) pumping of these basements is very important as we progress into the mosquito season.
The Mosquito Abatement District requests that people refrain from over watering their lawns to the extent that water will run off into the street gutters and remain standing. Any of these standing water situations may be reduced by the home resident. If any problem is too large for the resident to correct, they may call the District for help in resolving the problem.
The District does have a limited amount of mosquito fish available to residents within the District boundaries. Anyone wishing to receive fish is asked to call the District in advance and to bring their own containers for transportation.
Also, the District is again using the State’s dead bird program, which began in mid-April. The public is asked to call the dead bird hotline #877-WNV-Bird (877) 968-2473 if they find a dead bird. Birds should be dead no more than 24 hours and in fair shape to be tested. If the hotline accepts the bird, District personnel will pick the bird up to be tested, if the bird is within the District boundaries. If positive for West Nile virus, the District will monitor the area and implement control measures.
To protect yourself from mosquitoes and there are several preventative measures that can be taken. Here are some important ones to remember:
1. Avoid spending time outside when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and dusk
2. When outdoors at dawn and dusk wear long pants and long sleeve shirts
3. Apply insect repellent containing DEET according to label instructions.
4. Make sure that doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.
Humans and horses are all susceptible to WNV along with the bird population. A vaccine is available for the horse owner and is highly recommended as infected horses have nearly a 50% mortality rate. No vaccine as yet for humans. Of people infected by WNV, about 80% show no symptoms whatsoever. About 20% have West Nile fever, developing common flu like symptoms: nausea, fever, body aches, mild skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. West Nile fever can be very debilitating with recovery taking weeks or months. WNV can be severe in the elderly and those with low immune systems. Rarely, an individual can develop serious illness including encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. If you have symptoms of high fever, severe headaches, and/or stiffness, please seek medical attention.
The District has informational material available to the public upon request at the District Office 713 D. Street, in Colusa. If there are questions, the public may contact the District office at (530) 458-4966 or visit the District website at: colusamosquitoabatementdistrict.com
