Spring Aerial Mosquito Treatment to Begin April 17, 2023
BAY COUNTY, MI - Bay County Mosquito Control will begin its 2023 spring aerial treatment to control mosquito larvae in flooded woodlots on Monday, April 17, weather dependent. Four yellow and white aircraft will be working out of James Clements Airport in Bay City to provide the aerial service. Over a period of 7-10 days, Bay County residents may notice the low-flying aircraft over wooded areas between 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., weather permitting.
Aircraft will release a granular insecticide called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) to over 50,000 acres of flooded woodlots in Bay County to control spring species of mosquito larvae breeding in the water. BTI is a naturally-occurring soil bacterium that is attached to a small granule made of ground-up corn cob. Once the granule reaches the water, the mosquito larvae eat the bacterium. Timing of the treatment is crucial as the mosquito larvae must ingest the product during this specific time in its life cycle in order to be effective. Controlling these mosquitoes now in the larval stage, will reduce the number of adult mosquitoes later in the spring.
Mosquito Control Manager Rebecca Brandt notes that “BTI has been used in Bay County’s spring aerial treatment for nearly forty years due to its environmental compatibility and low risk to non-target species. It is a naturally-occurring product containing a bacterium that specifically controls mosquito larvae, blackflies, and fungus gnats. It will not impact non-target organisms such humans, pets, birds, fish, and other aquatic organisms.”
From spring through fall, residents can protect themselves from mosquito bites by applying insect repellent before going outside when mosquitoes are active to reduce the threat of West Nile virus and other emerging mosquito-borne diseases. Residents can also reduce mosquitoes by eliminating sources of stagnant water on their property including removing water-holding containers or storing them upside down to prevent water collecting, changing bird bath and wading pool water weekly, placing fine-mesh screen over rain barrels and disposing of old tires.
To help with this effort, two scrap tire collections will be held for Bay County residents this summer, Saturday, June 3, at Bay County Mosquito Control, and Saturday, August 5, at Fraser Township Hall, both from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Up to 10 passenger car-sized tires without rims per household will be accepted at these events funded through a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Scrap Tire Clean-Up grant.
Bay County Mosquito Control is a division of the Bay County Environmental Affairs and Community Development department. Manager Rebecca Brandt can be reached at (989) 894-4555 or brandtr@baycounty.net for more information about the aerial larval control program.
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