Each spring with the rains and warm temperatures, we have the potential to breed mosquitoes. Mosquito eggs need standing water to hatch and grow.  Here are some simple tips on how you can reduce breeding sites in your yard: 

• Empty or get rid of any item that may hold water such as cans, flower pots, trash cans, bird baths, used tires, child’s pool
• Clean and make sure your home’s eaves troughs and downspouts drain correctly
• Fill and grade low spots in your yard that may hold water
• Maintain garden ponds, pools and hot tubs 

If you have standing water, you can treat these areas with mosquito dunks.  These dunks are placed in standing water to kill the larvae and prevent the mosquitoes from maturing to feeding adults.  These dunks are available to city residents at the Department of Public Service Division 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.   

Weather permitting, city crews will start spraying for mosquitos on an as needed basis May through October. Spraying commences after sundown and depends on the weather. No spraying will be done if raining or winds are above 10 mph. 

The product that is used from Clarke is called Duet. It is an adulticide product used in residential, urban, industrial and recreational areas. According to its website, "The EPA has evaluated Duet and determined that using it according to label guidelines, in residential areas, including in and around gardens and over non-organic agricultural crop areas, does not pose a significant risk to people or animals. Duet has low mammalian toxicity." Also, "People and pets can be outdoors during a Duet application; there are no re-entry restrictions or limitations for Duet. Prior to registering a product, the EPA evaluates products thoroughly to be sure there is a "reasonable certainty of no harm" to humans, animals and the environment from their use. Duet and its ingredients have passed rigorous tests required by the EPA and has been approved for use in ground and aerial application in outdoor residential and recreational areas."