These Fatheads Will Help You Fight Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes pass along a number of troubling diseases these days. And as we learned first with West Nile and then with Zika, mosquitoes can carry these viruses far from the tropics into the Hudson Valley.

To help Rockland County residents reduce the number of mosquitoes on their property, County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announce the availability of free fathead minnows, a type of fish that can control mosquito breeding on your property. They're also giving away Mosquito Dunks.

"We encourage residents to take advantage of these free mosquito control products. Mosquitoes can sometimes spread disease, such as West Nile Virus or Zika Virus. The West Nile Virus has been found in local mosquitoes, and Rockland County has had cases of the virus in people which was spread from local mosquitoes. To date, the Zika virus has not been found in local mosquitoes, and our only cases of Zika to date are from people who have traveled to areas where the Zika Virus is spreading," said Dr. Ruppert.

The fathead minnows are available for pick-up only from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday. at the Health Department, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona. Follow the "Free Dunk/Fish" signs from Sanatorium Road to the give-away location.

But don't just go. Call (845) 364-3173 on April 26 during normal business hours to make sure that the fish give-away will take place as scheduled.

Fathead minnows eat mosquito larvae before they become flying, biting adults. They can eat up to 200 mosquito larvae per day. The fish can be placed in unused swimming pools, ornamental ponds, and other similar areas that have a minimum of eight inches of water.

It is not necessary to stock streams and rivers with these fish, as mosquitoes generally do not lay eggs in moving water.

If fish are already present, it is not necessary to add fathead minnows, as the existing fish population should provide appropriate mosquito control.

The Health Department will provide the required permits to allow you to stock the fish in Rockland County. The fish will be in a sealed bag for transport. Please bring a bucket or small cooler. For more information call (845) 364-3173 or visit http://bit.ly/2na0BSG.

Rockland is also offering a free one-month's supply of Mosquito Dunks® at the fish give-away on April 26, and also Mondays - Fridays, from 9 am to 4 pm at the Health Department, Building D, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona. Dunks are small, donut-shaped objects that float on the water's surface and release bacteria that kill mosquitoes in their larval stage in water, before they become flying, biting adults. They are for use in closed or unused private swimming pools and spas, and are effective for approximately 30 days.

A single dunk will treat an area of about 100 square feet. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE LABEL INSTRUCTIONS when using Mosquito Dunks® or any other pesticide. It is important to know the approximate dimensions of your pool/spa to ensure that you get the proper number of dunks for effective treatment. In addition, residents can request free larvicide tablets by calling the New York State Department of Health at 1-888-364-4723.

In addition to the mosquito control products above, to help keep your property mosquito-free: be sure to check around your property for any items that can hold water and get rid of the items or empty the water out and scrub the objects at least once a week.

For more information call the Health Department at (845) 364-3173 or visit the New York State Department of Health webpages at www.health.ny.gov/diseases/west_nile_virus/ and www.health.ny.gov/diseases/zika_virus/.

PHOTO/ Rockland County Health Department