Mosquito Control
In October of 2014, Council adopted a Mosquito Control Program consisting of historical data, surveillance plans, and community guidance to control mosquitos and the diseases they carry (also known as arboviruses). The Town contracts with Tarrant County to monitor traps and conduct ground spraying.
Preventative monthly sprays are typically conducted on the fourth Thursday of each month from April through September, between 9:30 and 11:30 p.m., weather permitting. Additional ground sprays are added when a mosquito from a nearby trap tests positive for any arbovirus. Residents are encouraged to subscribe to CodeRED alerts regarding scheduled and emergency ground sprays to be reminded to stay inside along with their pets during these sprays.
Keeping Your Family Safe
Mosquito eggs can survive in just two tablespoons of standing water. Within 7 to 10 days, that egg can develop into a flying adult mosquito. The first line of defense should always be preventing safe places for these eggs to be laid. Survey your property and remove or prevent standing water from items such as buckets, toys, flowerpot saucers, or trash containers. You should also empty, scrub, and put fresh water in pet drinking bowls, bird baths, and wading pools at least once per week. Check and maintain rainwater tanks and water storage vessels to ensure screens are intact and limit mosquito entry.
To report standing water or neglected pools in your neighborhood, please call 817-617-3700.
The second line of defense is killing larvae with mosquito dunks (which also come in chunk or bit sizes, depending on the surface area of the water being treated). These products can be used in bird baths, ponds, and even pet drinking dishes because the bacteria they employ are deadly to mosquito larvae but harmless to animals, humans, and pollinators. It is also recommended to sprinkle mosquito bits in low-lying areas of your yard that collect precipitation or irrigation water.
The next line of defense is ground spraying to kill adult mosquitos, which is conducted monthly by the Town, with additional sprays added as needed. There are also products and companies that will similarly treat your personal property. However, please remember that insecticides used to target adult mosquitoes are nonselective and will kill all insects that come in contact with the chemicals, including pollinators and other beneficial insects. The more we work together to prevent mosquitoes, the better.
The final stage in preventing mosquito bites is to wear light-colored long sleeves and pants, avoid being outdoors at dusk or dawn, and use an effective repellant when you must be outside during mosquito season.
Arbovirus Prevention
Why is it so important to prevent mosquito bites? Mosquitos can pick up viruses when feeding on an infected host and then spread that virus when feeding on another host. Although the likelihood of being bitten by a disease-carrying mosquito is low, the best way to protect yourself from contracting a mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitos in our community and protect your family from being bitten:
🦟 DUSK to DAWN: stay indoors when mosquitos are active
🦟 DRAIN: prevent and eliminate standing water in flower pots, toys, gutters, and wading pools
🦟 DRESS: opt for light-colored long sleeves and pants
🦟 DEET: apply effective repellent when outdoors