Background on Joint Mosquito Abatement Program
The CRD, the District of Central Saanich, Tsawout First Nation and a number of private consultants work together on a Joint Mosquito Abatement Program for sites in Central Saanich, including Island View Beach Regional Park. This program, which has been running for over 25 years, is delivered annually under a provincially-approved Integrated Pest Management Plan.
The program starts in February each year with consultants conducting mosquito larval surveys at Island View Beach Regional Park and on Central Saanich and Tsawout managed lands. Based on the findings of the surveys, the contractor identifies larval hotspots and determines the appropriate amounts of larvicide to apply and when to apply it. This application program continues through to late fall. The pest management contractor continues to monitor and sample sites and fresh water habitats throughout Central Saanich on a weekly basis monitoring for adult and larval mosquito presence and taking prescriptive actions aimed at reduction.
The Island View Beach area contains a series of ditches and a one way flapper gate that help control the inflow and infiltration of seawater in the ditch system. Qualified professionals undertake regular monitoring, ditch surveys, and if required prescriptions for ditch maintenance. The CRD, Central Saanich and the Tsawout Nation undertake maintenance to areas under their respective management. Based on annual observations made by qualified professionals around the conditions of the drainage system, recommendations are made for improving water flow while not increasing mosquito habitat. Maintenance activities include: brushing specific target areas, manually removing small blockages, or using heavy equipment to redefine ditches. This work is typically undertaken once the drainage areas are dry enough for machinery to access and outside of the time when nesting birds could be disturbed.
Questions regarding the program can be directed to CRD Regional Parks at crdparks@crd.bc.ca.
How to help reduce mosquito populations
Eliminate standing water sites by:
• removing discarded containers from around your property
• regularly replacing water in bird baths and livestock troughs
• storing boats, canoes and other objects so that they do not collect rainwater
To reduce the annoyance of mosquitos:
• install and maintain tight fitting window and door screens to help keep mosquitos out of your home
• wear light coloured, loose fitting clothing
• don’t eat near your barbeque (since heat and moisture from barbeques attracts mosquitos)
Misconceptions about mosquito repellents and control methods
• Sound and electric devices have no repellence effects and are marketed with no test results
• Citronella (plants and candles) has no data to support mosquito control claims and the unpleasant odors do not guarantee results
• Skin moisturizing oil field tests do not support mosquito control claims and mosquitos are repelled far more by DEET than by skin moisturizer products
• Bug zappers kill mostly beneficial insects (mosquitos comprise less than 5% of their catch) and the zappers actually attract mosquitos
• Insect eating birds are not effective as ornithologists state that swallows do not prefer mosquitos and mosquitos make up less than three per cent of their diet
Insect eating bats are not effective as their diets consist mainly of beetles, wasps, ants, flies, stoneflies, mayflies, moths and grasshoppers; and mosquitos make up less than one per fect of their diet
Mosquito magnets can actually draw mosquitos into an area to bite humans
If you have mosquito habitat that is on your property which is not already known by control personnel, please contact DUKA Environmental Services Ltd. at 1-800-681-3472.