City of Brandon’s Approach To Mosquito Management

The rise in summertime temperatures is a refreshing shift from chillier temperatures. With higher humidity levels, mosquito populations also increase, affecting the enjoyment of sunny days when families and friends gather for fun outdoor activities like backyard barbecues or visits to local playgrounds.

As the city manager, I often hear how nuisance insects influence our outdoor experiences. These insects are not only bothersome but can represent a threat to health as well. To address this issue, I want to highlight what the City of Brandon does to help mitigate nuisance mosquitoes.

What Does the City Do to Control the Mosquito Population? 

The City’s tackles nuisance mosquitoes through its mosquito abatement program, using various methods to diminish the mosquito population in the area. The City also partners with the Province of Manitoba to monitor and control the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile Virus. This partnership is crucial in safeguarding our residents’ health as well as reducing the irritation and discomfort associated with mosquito bites.

The City’s mosquito abatement program follows the Adulticiding Factor Analysis (AFA) guidelines, which includes various methods of surveillance, larval control, and adult control of mosquitoes, as well as public education and outreach.

Our Parks & Recreation staff monitor 102 square miles (264 square km), paying particular attention to various standing water locations and monitoring for mosquito larva growth. Larvicidal measures are applied whenever there are at least five larvae found in ten water samples.

Throughout the summer, our team uses mosquito traps to measure the number of mosquitoes in different areas. Mosquito traps are set out Saturday and Sunday mornings and retrieved the following days. They are then transported to Winnipeg every Tuesday, where Provincial government-contracted staff count each trap, typically providing results by Thursday morning. This data allows our team to understand mosquito density and distribution, which guides our decisions regarding mosquito fogging. Weekly trap counts can be accessed at opengov.brandon.ca.

What Does the City Fog for Mosquito’s in the City? 

Adhering to the AFA Guidelines is imperative when deciding the timing for adult nuisance mosquito control measures. The City will fog if one or more of the following conditions are met:

1. Two sequential trap counts indicate that the AFA levels are elevated
2. The daily trap count goes beyond 1,000 mosquitoes
3. A single trap count exceeds 2,000 mosquitoes
4. The Province of Manitoba issues the City of Brandon an order to spray for Culex tarsalis mosquitoes

Upon meeting any of these criteria, the City of Brandon will commence with fogging operations within 24 hours, weather dependent.

Buffer Zone Registrations 

Residents may apply to have a 90-metre buffer zone applied to their property during a nuisance mosquito fogging event. By registering for a buffer zone, residents will have their property and an area of 90 metres on all sides excluded from the Nuisance Mosquito Fogging Program.

Residents must renew their buffer zone registration at the beginning of every season, and a medical certificate is not required to request a nuisance mosquito buffer zone. However, should the Province of Manitoba issue the City of Brandon an order to spray for Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, no buffer zones will apply.
Personal Protection  

While the City takes proactive measures to control mosquito populations, it is also essential for residents to take personal precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. This includes using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and eliminating standing water around your property where mosquitoes can breed.

Cost  

Mosquito control—including testing, observing, analyzing, applying larvicide in standing water areas and fogging the city one time, costs each resident 1.05 cents per day or just $1 for the entire summer. If fogging isn’t needed, the cost drops to 0.83 cents per day.

We understand the importance of enjoying our summers without the constant bother of mosquitoes. Rest assured, the City of Brandon is actively working to manage the mosquito population while ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents.

 From the “Inside City Hall” series by City of Brandon’s City Manager Ron Bowles.