Spring Aerial Mosquito Treatment to Begin Monday, April 12, 2021
Contact: Bay County Mosquito Control, Rebecca Brandt or Mary McCarry, (989) 894-4555
Bay County, Michigan - As part of an initiative to protect public health and improve quality of life for Bay County residents, Bay County Mosquito Control (BCMC) will begin conducting its 2021 spring aerial treatment to control mosquito larvae in flooded woodlots, the week of April 12. Aerial treatment has taken place for over thirty years in Bay County and is a critical step in Bay County’s comprehensive mosquito control program. All activities will be made in accordance with COVID safety guidelines.
Over a period of 7-10 days, Bay County residents may notice low-flying, yellow or white fixed-wing aircraft over wooded areas between 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., weather permitting. To prevent the emergence of biting adult mosquitoes, over 50,000 acres of flooded woodlots will be treated with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), targeting larval stage mosquitoes in the standing water. In order to be effective, the mosquito larvae must ingest the product which is why it is crucial to time the treatment to the stage when larvae feed most heartily.
Mosquito Control Manager Rebecca Brandt notes that “Bti is a naturally-occurring granular product containing a soil bacterium that specifically affects mosquito larvae, blackflies, and fungus gnats. It has low impact to non-target organisms such humans, pets, birds, fish, and other aquatic organisms.” The bacterium is attached to a corn cob granule and applied at 3 pounds per acre.
To further reduce mosquito habitats in Bay County, two scrap tire collections will be held for Bay County
residents this summer, Saturday, June 5, at Bay County Mosquito Control, and Saturday, August 7, 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.
From spring through fall, residents should 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 mosquitoborne diseases.
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 for more
information about the aerial larviciding program.
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