City plots mosquito control changes

After reports of Forest Lake residents contracting West Nile virus, Tuscaloosa officials are looking for ways to reduce the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses citywide.

In 2017, three residents who live on or near Forest Lake were diagnosed with the virus that is typically transmitted from birds to humans via mosquitoes.

There is no definitive proof, but some suspect the infiltration of Canada geese that began arriving at the private neighborhood lake after the April 27, 2011, tornado led to the West Nile infections.

Tera Tubbs, executive director of the city's Infrastructure and Public Services department, said the city’s mosquito control measures are currently under review.

“Historically, we’ve done the (mosquito) spraying routes from May to October,” Tubbs said. “What we’re looking at moving forward is modifying and enhancing our mosquito control methods.”

Options include:

• More frequent or targeted spraying measures

• Treatment of standing water to reduce or eliminate mosquito larvae.

No final decision has been made, but Tubbs said she anticipates using the current mosquito control budget to fund any changes the department decides upon.

But a major component will be public information campaign to help residents understand how to reduce the mosquito populations, she said.

“We’re really looking at doing maybe a combination of spraying, treating the standing water and public education,” Tubbs said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has recommendations on how to reduce mosquitos around homes:

• Remove standing water where mosquitoes could lay eggs

• Since mosquitoes lay eggs near water, make it a weekly habit to empty and scrub, turn over, cover or throw out any items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers or trash containers.

• Tightly cover water storage containers, like buckets, cisterns or rain barrels, so that mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs. For containers without lids, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.

• Use larvicides to treat large containers of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or dumped out.

• For those with septic tanks, repair any cracks or gaps and cover any open vents or plumbing pipes with caps or wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.

• Mosquitoes rest in dark, humid areas like under patio furniture, or under the carport or garage. Use outdoor insecticide sprays to kill them here.

And while residents of Forest Lake are considering whether to contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to eliminate its geese population, there are ways to push out or keep out unwanted geese without the needs for traps or euthanasia.

The USDA recommends:

• Discontinue feeding, as wild birds can find their own food and will survive without handouts. Oftentimes, the birds will leave once people stop providing them food.

• Modify landscaping. Geese and ducks, in particular, are grazers and need short, green grass for food. Allowing grass to grow longer makes it unattractive to the birds.

• Waterfowl prefer nesting on islands, peninsulas and undisturbed grounds. When landscaping, do not create these areas and, in places where they already exist, consider changes to make them unusable to ducks or geese.

• With waterfowl prefering to land on water and walk onto adjacent grassy areas to feed and rest, the installation of barriers serves as an effective tools for controlling them. Fences, hedgerows and stone or masonry walls are options.

• The use of scaring devices, such as large helium-filled balloons, strobe lights or scarecrows with movable parts can keep ducks and geese away. Other options include reflecting tape, Mylar flags, screamer sirens, whistle bombs and automatic exploders as long as they are allowed under existing zoning or noise regulations.

• Dogs, particularly those that can be trained to chase birds as soon as they land can be used to keep geese out of hay, grain crops and parks. Local leash laws, however, may prevent free-ranging dogs in municipalities.

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.