County Will Target Mosquito Breeding Ground Monday

It's 'skeeter season, but the county's Mosquito and Vector Control plans to get a handle on the blood-sucking bugs Monday morning.

Starting at 9 a.m.—weather permitting—a helicopter crew will sprinkle 45 acres in and near Watsonville with mosquito control granules.

The granular treatment will be focused on Watsonville Slough, Atkinson Pond, Pinto Lake, Harkins Slough and Struve Slough. The aim is to reduce mosquito breeding in the wetlands.

The low-flying helicopter shouldn't take long to hit all those areas, according to Mosquito and Vector Control supervisor Paul Binding. Also, he noted that this is not an aerial fogging or air-dispersed application, and it's not harmful to humans, birds or other wildlife.

If the helicopter isn't available Monday or the weather doesn't cooperate, the treatment will be postponed to Wednesday.

To help with mosquito control in your own backyard, empty yard containers of standing water, place mosquitofish in ornamental ponds or non-maintained pools and call Mosquito and Vector Control about mosquito breeding situations—such as unmaintained swimming pools or ponds—and biting mosquitoes. The number is 831-454-2590.

To protect yourself from those annoying mosquito bites, wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks with shoes and repellents when outside at dawn or dusk.