Sioux Falls Ramping Up Mosquito Control After Flooding

Mosquitoes are the talk of the town in Sioux Falls after the recent flooding. Every inch of the city is experiencing an overwhelming amount of the pest and because of that, the City of Sioux Falls is ramping up its efforts to control the high volume of mosquitoes.

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Here's what the City of Sioux Falls said in a press release issued earlier today:

The City of Sioux Falls is experiencing an uptick in mosquitoes because of the recent flooding and warm temperatures. This combination creates an ideal environment for nuisance mosquitoes to grow. The Sioux Falls Health Department’s Mosquito Control Program will conduct a citywide mosquito spray starting Monday. It will take three days, Monday through Wednesday, to spray the entire city. The sprays are part of an ongoing effort to reduce the mosquito population and protect public health.

Although the team has been strategically spraying in various zones throughout the city since early June based on the population of harmful mosquitoes, the number of nuisance mosquitoes the city is seeing warrants a spray city-wide to improve quality of life. These spraying operations will be conducted during the evening hours when mosquito activity is at its peak. The team will also conduct thermal fogging, a daytime treatment to get rid of mosquitoes outdoors using special equipment. The fogging machine heats up and turns the insecticide into a fog that spreads in the air and kills mosquitoes upon contact. The team will treat bike paths, heavily wooded areas, and more.

Residents are advised to take the following precautions to help prevent mosquito hatching and reduce the risk of mosquito-borne infections:

• Dump all standing water on private properties, as mosquitoes breed in standing water.
• Regularly check and empty any containers around your property that can collect water, such as flower pots, birdbaths, wading pools, and gutters.
• Use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin and clothing when outdoors. Follow the instructions on the label for safe and effective use.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks when outside during the evening and early morning hours when mosquitoes are most active.

The Sioux Falls Health Department is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our community. The mosquito control program uses scientifically proven methods to target mosquito populations while minimizing the impact on the environment.

For more information about the mosquito control program and tips on how to protect yourself from mosquito bites, please visit siouxfalls.gov/mosquito. Sign up to receive text alerts each time we spray by texting SPRAY to 888-777.

-City of Sioux Falls Press Release