June 19, 2025:
While recent rains have been good for getting things to grow in fields, pastures, lawns and gardens, they also cause growth in the number of mosquitoes people encounter when outdoors.
Pierre Park Superintendent Jay Jensen says his team began fogging the community with adulticide and treating standing water with larvicide about three weeks ago (May 29, 2025). He says they treated sports fields with insecticide last week and the most recent residential fogging operation– the third one this year– was done Tuesday night (June 17, 2025).
Jensen says fogging is used to kill adult mosquitoes, but prevention is the most effective way to control the mosquito population as a whole. Residents should eliminate mosquito breeding grounds by removing standing water from bird baths, tire swings or any sort of container that holds water.
Jensen says Pierre sets and monitors mosquito traps annually to help identify the optimal times for mosquito control operations. He says they start monitoring activity early in the season, and continue to check traps as long as weather creates favorable conditions for the mosquitoes to breed.
May 28, 2025:
The City of Pierre will begin its mosquito control efforts Thursday (May 29, 2025).
Bryan Tipton, Parks and Recreation Director, says mosquito hatching usually starts a few days after a rain. He says fogging is used to kill adult mosquitoes and larvicide is applied through a ground treatment in parks and sports fields to eliminate the mosquitoes before they hatch.
Tipton says the third– and most effective way– to control the mosquito population heavily relies on residents to eliminate their breeding habitats. Homeowners should empty out bird baths, tire swings and any outdoor containers that collect and hold water. He says even a small puddle can produce thousands of mosquitoes.
Tipton says they set and monitor mosquito traps each year to help identify the best times to ramp up mosquito control operations. He says they start monitoring activity early in the season, and continue to check traps as long as weather creates favorable conditions for the mosquitoes to breed.
Comments