Keep drains, ditches and culverts clean of weeds and trash so water will drain properly. Cover trash containers to keep rainwater out. Make sure your backyard pool is properly cared for while on vacation. Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well-trimmed so adult mosquitoes can t hide there. Though a mosquito s population can be reduced, it cannot completely eliminated, which isn t a good idea anyway.
Mosquitoes are an important part of the food chain.
They are the main meal course for fish, birds, bats and other wildlife. Protecting yourself against the threat of mosquitoes as well as ticks is essential to a healthy summer. Symptoms of encephalitis appear within five to 15 days after a bite from an infected mosquito and include severe headaches, a fever, nausea and vomiting, disorientation, chills and muscle aches, pains and stiffness. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Do not use a repellent with DEET concentration of more than 30 percent for adults and 10 percent for children.