Mosquito-Breeding Grounds to be Sprayed Tuesday

Mosquitoes are out in blood-sucking force, but fortunately they have a date Tuesday with the Santa Cruz County Mosquito & Vector Control, which will apply mosquito-control granules by helicopter to 50 acres in the areas near Watsonville.

The 9 a.m. mosquito treatments help reduce common bites, as well as mosquito-borne diseases, such as the West Nile virus. There have reportedly been 111 West Nile virus infections identified in Californians since 2010, with 37 of them happening over the summer alone, according to Paul Binding, Mosquito and Vector Control supervisor.

Areas that will be sprayed include portions of Watsonville Slough, Atkinson Pond, Pinto Lake, Harkins Slough and Sunset State Beach marsh, and will be rescheduled for Wednesday if poor weather interferes.

The helicopter should be present in the five areas for only a few minutes each, and the spraying won't include aerial fogging or air-dispersed applications, meaning it shouldn't be harmful to humans or wildlife of any kind.

Binding notes that this is a preferred technique, because it targets young mosquitoes still in the aquatic stages of development, which prevents the emergence of adult mosquitoes and reduces the need for applications that could be hazardous to the environment.

To stay protected, residents are encouraged to empty any yard containers of standing water and to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, along with socks and shoes. Residents should also use repellents when outside at dawn or dusk.

If mosquito-breeding situations are identified, contact Vector Control at 831-454-2590. Dead birds or tree squirrels may be reported to the Department of Public Health. The West Nile Virus hotline is 877-WNV-BIRD.