Community Corner
November 2018 - San Mateo County Mosquito District Reports
What YOUR San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District has been up 2
Article Source: San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District
Are You Ready for Tick Season?
Autumn is a great time for hiking here in San Mateo County, but it's also the beginning of adult western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) season. Ticks are a natural part of our environment here in San Mateo County, and you shouldn't be afraid to enjoy the outdoors. However, you should take some basic precautions against tick bites. When spending time outdoors, dress defensively. Wear closed shoes, socks, and long pants and sleeves. You may also want to tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks - this keeps ticks from finding an easy route to your skin. Add an appropriate EPA-registered repellent to keep ticks off, or choose tick-repellent clothing, both of which you can find at most outdoors stores. When you get home, do a thorough tick check and change clothes. Showering and washing your hair will help rinse away any unattached ticks, as well as giving you a chance to check your entire body. You may need a friend or family member to help check your back and behind your ears - areas you can't easily see yourself. Don't forget to check your pets for hitchhiking ticks, too!
If you do find a tick, don't panic! Unattached ticks can be flicked away outdoors, or flushed down the toilet indoors. Attached ticks should be removed promptly, and can be saved for disease testing if desired. Stay alert for symptoms of tick-borne illness after spending time in tick habitat, even if you didn't notice a tick bite, and see a healthcare provider promptly if you get sick.
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Read more about avoiding tick bites.
Go With the Flow this Fall to Prevent Mosquitoes
Tick season may be beginning, but November is also mosquito season here in San Mateo County - just like every other month of the year. Mosquitoes are a year-round problem in our area, and winter rainfall gives them plenty of new standing water to reproduce in.
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If you're noticing mosquitoes around your home, give us a call. We can send a technician to help you locate the standing water they're emerging from - even if it's not on your own property. If you're not noticing mosquitoes and would like to keep it that way, take the time for a weekly standing water inspection around your home. Look high and low for even small amounts of standing water, and take steps to eliminate it. Discard, turn over, or remove containers and other items that fill with rainwater. Shake out tarps and covers that hold water in their folds. You'll also want to inspect your gutters and any drains on your property to make sure they're flowing freely.
A few moments of work each week will keep your property free of standing water, and help reduce mosquito populations in your neighborhood so you and your family can continue to enjoy the outdoors - rain or shine. Not sure where to start your inspection?
Here's a list of places to check on your own property.
Holiday Office Hours
The District office will be closed November 22nd and 23rd in observance of Thanksgiving, December 24th and 25th in observance of Christmas, and January 1st in observance of New Years Day.
West Nile Virus Update
West Nile virus (WNV) season comes to an end during the month of October, when nighttime temperatures drop substantially. This year we detected WNV in five birds and two mosquito pools in San Mateo County. This was an increase in WNV activity compared to 2017, but is relatively low compared to peak WNV activity in 2014.
Mosquito Population Update
Counts for all mosquito species are averaging below ten per trap per night, which is consistent with the five-year average. Although Culex pipiens mosquito populations had a late peak in September, they have since returned to normal levels, and we expect them to further decrease through the colder months.
Our Work by the Numbers
In October, technicians responded to 301 service requests, including 66 reports of mosquitoes or standing water, 141 yellowjacket and wasp requests, 51 rodent inspections, and 11 insect identifications. Read more.
When Rodents Move In for the Winter
When it's chilly outside, there's nothing nicer than getting warm and cozy indoors. Rats and mice would definitely agree, but we suspect you won't want to host these houseguests for the holidays.
The best time to stop a rodent infestation is before it begins. That means inspecting your home regularly for openings where rats and mice can get inside. Pay particular attention to gaps around windows and doors, areas where pipes or wires enter the home, and vents to your attic or crawl space. Look both close to the ground and near the eaves; rats are great climbers and won't be deterred by a vertical wall. You'll also want to check your rooftop vents and chimneys to make sure they're outfitted with appropriate caps or screens.
You should also watch for signs that rodents are already present, including droppings and rub or grease marks. Rodents leave these marks in areas where they travel frequently, like on the tops of ledges, going up pipes, or around openings. If you think you already have a rodent problem, give us a call. We can help you figure out where they're getting in and how to keep them out, and provide guidance on trapping any rats that are already inside.
Read more about preventing rodent infestations.
Laboratory Update
This summer the laboratory has been assisted by Alexander Flores, who conducted most of the surveillance for invasive Aedes mosquitoes this season. For the past five years, Alex has worked for the District as a seasonal laboratory technician in the operations department, but this year he took a position in the laboratory. We greatly appreciate his work over the past five years and wish Alex all the best on his future endeavors!
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Robert Riechel
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Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives
Source Credit: San Mateo County CA Mosquito & Vector Control District
Phone: 650-344-8592
Web Site: http://smcmvcd.org/
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