Guest Opinion

Rains in late April and early May have ensured that mosquito season in Boulder County is just around the corner. County residents and those city residents who live near open space or wetlands know what this means: curtailing early morning and evening walks, taking cover after dinner, moving the picnic supper indoors, trying to find the least obnoxious repellant, and worrying about disease carrying mosquitoes. Mosquitoes do play an important role in the ecosystem of Boulder County as food for many birds, bats and other predatory insects. However, it is hard to remember their value when you are plagued by itchy, annoying mosquito bites or worried about the potential for disease that mosquitos carry.

The Boulder County Mosquito Control Program was created six years ago by the Boulder County Commissioners to help combat the mosquito problem in the county and to educate citizens about howthey can help reduce the mosquito population. Today, Boulder County maintains one of the most environmentally conscious programs in the country, with more than 94 percent of the program addressing biological or physical control of mosquito larvae.

As a concerned group of city and county residents who make up the Mosquito Control Citizens Advisory Board, our task is to keep informed those citizens who reside in the Boulder County Mosquito Control District, which includes most of eastern Boulder County from the foothills east to the county line and from Highway 66 south to South Boulder Road, excluding incorporated areas. We meet monthly to review the work of Colorado Mosquito Control, Inc., the company contracted by Boulder County to control mosquitoes. We also review and create educational materials and programs to help county residents learn how to control the mosquito population around their homes and on agricultural lands.

As homeowners, we can help reduce the mosquito population by eliminating larval breeding sites on our property. After four days, any standing water can become a breeding pool for mosquitoes. By emptying all water-holding containers in our yards, (such as old tires, rain barrels, wading pools, pet dishes, plant saucers and bird baths), we can greatly reduce mosquitoes around our homes. We can also cut down on adult mosquitoes by eliminating their hiding places. Keeping lawns mowed as short as possible, cutting back on dense vegetation surrounding our yards and keeping shrubs and bushes pruned will reduce the number of adult mosquito daytime "hangouts."

Farmers and agricultural land owners are encouraged to keep tail water from accumulating or standing for more than four days. They are also urged to keep irrigation ditches free-flowing and clear of vegetation and debris. Tire ruts and hoof prints need to be filled to prevent standing puddles. Horse and cattle troughs should be kept clean and water needs to be changed weekly. These practices will prevent agricultural lands from becoming mosquito breeding and harboring sites.

Adult mosquitoes are most active at dawn and for approximately one hour after dusk. If you must be outside during these hours, cover your arms and legs and consider using a mosquito repellant. Non-DEET formulas are often effective, are safer for children, and are readily available. In addition to protecting humans, horses should be vaccinated for Western Equine Encephalitis and dogs should receive heartworm medication.

For more information, or to have questions or concerns addressed, please contact Boulder County Health Department at 303-441-1180. To report standing water that could result in mosquito breeding sites or to report large numbers of adult mosquitoes, contact Colorado Mosquito Control at 303-466-4515. You can also visit our website at http://co.boulder.co.us/health/main.htm

Elise Backinger, John Gerstle, Linda Hodges, Bo Shaffer, Catherine Sobanski, Barbra Weidlein Members, Boulder County Mosquito Control Citizens Advisory Board

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