Mosquito ~ Control 2015

Remember how bad the mosquitoes were last year?

It’s time to start thinking of ways to avoid a similar influx again this summer.  The main source of salt marsh mosquitoes - those big, dusty gray kamikaze insects - is the slough at the south end of the island.  They lay their eggs in the mud and when high tides flood the mud flats in spring and summer they hatch in their thousands.  The eggs are viable in the mud for many years and I’m sure last year’s mosquitoes added to the inventory. 

In the past there was a flapper valve on the culvert that runs under Pilkey Point Road.  3 or 4 years ago, that flapper rusted off the culvert and hasn’t been replaced.  We need someone with metal work experience to give us a new flapper valve. 

This is also a health issue as mosquitoes are vectors for West Nile Virus. And since the mosquito infestation affected the whole island last year, this is not something that one or two people should be responsible for.  The whole community needs to be behind this to achieve a community made solution.  Is this an issue for TIRRA to address?   

The purpose of this email is to get the discussion going and it will be in small gatherings. So start thinking and problem solving.  

Next summer’s happiness is in the balance!

Pat English, Secretary, Strata 589