Nevada County’s Environmental Health Department announces five mosquito fish giveaways, which will take place on Wednesdays from May 7 to July 9.
“Mosquito fish are named as such because they are known to consume quite a bit of mosquito larvae in ponds or other standing bodies of water,” explained Amy Irani, Environmental Health director. “They are another effective tool to help reduce the mosquito population in its larval form and are a non-chemical method, which is also beneficial to the overall environment. If you can reduce the mosquito population, you can also reduce the risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile Virus.”
To “fight the bite,” remove standing water in your garden or yard by flipping over buckets, pots, tires, and bins. Irani continued, “Reducing suitable breeding grounds helps reduce the risk of mosquitoes.” Not only does it remove a nuisance pest that causes discomfort and annoyance, but it also reduces the risk of infection, which is important to everyone in the community.
Details
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Nevada County Government Center Parking Lot, 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City
How to Participate:
- Drive-thru pick-ups only; please remain in your car. Follow the signage to the new pick-up route, see map below.
- Containers will be provided to take the fish home safely.
- The mosquito fish must be delivered to your pond within two hours. The fish will eat mosquito larvae in ponds, watering troughs, birdbaths, and unused swimming pools.
Dates
- Wednesday, May 7
- Wednesday, May 21
- Wednesday, June 4
- Wednesday, June 18
- Wednesday, July 9
About Mosquito Fish & the Best Environments for Them to Thrive
These fish are not native; they are invasive species. These fish are only meant for closed/stagnant ponds and should not be placed into ponds that can drain into the local creeks and streams. This can have negative impacts on the native ecosystem. If your pond has outlets, please do not acquire these fish.
If your pond already has larger fish, you don’t need mosquito fish. The larger fish will eat the smaller mosquito fish. Also, the larger fish will eat mosquito larvae, and certainly, their smaller offspring will eat larvae too. Nevada County Environmental Health can inspect your water source and offer other options.
In situations where a property has temporary, seasonal ponds, drainages, or ditches and they cannot be manually drained, store-bought bacterial larvicide products such as BTI can be used. Most home-use larvicide products are harmless to the environment and will not hurt people, pets, or wildlife when used properly and according to label directions. These products are often found at various hardware, garden, or pond supply stores. Also, the Nevada County Environmental Health Department provides on-site service visits for treatment requests. Call the Vector Control Program at 530-265-1500.
To learn more about vector management, visit our page on Mosquito Fish.
