Residents can help prevent mosquito problems by doing simple maintenance in their own yards.
Rainwater that collects in even the smallest containers or puddles provides a place for mosquitoes to lay eggs and for these eggs to grow into adults. It only takes a week for a mosquito to become fully-grown, so water left even a short time will cause problems. Residents should change birdbath water at least every week, fix leaking outdoor faucets, clean gutters, empty water from flower pot dishes and throw away yard trash that can collect water, especially old tires. Ponds should be kept clean and stocked with fish to eat the growing mosquitoes before they become adults. Since mosquitoes can carry disease, people should use insect repellant when outdoors and avoid areas with many mosquitoes.