More Minnows To Eat The Mosquitoes In Your Yard

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — To prevent mosquitoes from multiplying, the Westchester County Health Department will give away another 200 pounds of fathead minnows this Friday and Saturday to residents who have ponds or water features.

“Don’t be a mosquito’s next meal," Sherlita Amler, MD, Commissioner of Health, said in the announcement. "If you have a pond, add some fathead minnows. You can also prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard by keeping your gutters clear and removing buckets, pails and toys that collect standing water. After it rains tip the water out of flower pot saucers, and check your yard for standing water.”

The Health Department distributed 250 pounds of the tiny baitfish to 89 people earlier this month.

Along with the minnows, the department will hand out mosquito dunks and other strategies to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus.

The minnows and mosquito dunks will be available at the Westchester County Airport, 2 Loop Road, West Harrison, 10604 as follows:

• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday
• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Ornamental ponds that lack fish offer mosquitoes an ideal breeding spot. Fathead minnows eat mosquito larvae and pupae, which stops them from maturing into biting adults. Dunks also stop mosquito development in birdbaths, rain barrels and unused pools.

Residents who plan to pick up minnows should bring a bucket or pail to hold the watertight plastic bag of minnows the County will provide. To keep them viable, residents should bring them straight home and release them immediately into ponds with at least eight inches of water.

Large areas of standing water on public property that cannot easily be removed should be reported to the Health Department at (914) 813-5000.