West Nile Time: Rockland Offers Mosquito Dunks

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Mosquitoes love breeding in your yard. They go for any standing water, no matter how small.

There are two things you can do. First, once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out small items in your yard that hold water, such as toys, tires, buckets, planters, birdbaths, flowerpots, or trash containers, says the Centers for Disease Control. Remember, a mosquito can lay eggs in something as small as a discarded bottle cap.

Then, take care of any bodies of water on your property, including ponds, closed or unused private swimming pools and spas.

That's easy with free Mosquito Dunks, available from Rockland County.

Mosquito 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 effective for about 30 days. A single dunk will treat an area of about 100 square feet.

They will be available, free, for curbside pickup at the Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona. The giveaway will begin at 10 a.m. Friday and continue every Tuesday from 2 - 3 p.m. and every Friday from 10 - 11 a.m. until Oct. 30, or while supplies last.

First download and print a 2020 DUNK GIVEAWAY FORM. Bring the completed and signed form to the pickup location.

Park in the lot in front of the main entrance to Building A, across from the fenced courtyard area. Follow signs to the designated pickup location and make sure to wear a mask or other cloth face covering.

"The Mosquito Dunks giveaway is a perfect way for all of us to take action to help control the mosquito population and protect ourselves and the community from vector-borne diseases. We encourage residents to take advantage of these free mosquito control products. Also, 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 and scrub the objects at least once a week," said Rockland Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Ruppert.

For questions or more information, call the Health Department at (845) 364-3173 or visit https://bit.ly/2aXY0E4.