Mosquitoes have thrived in Winnipeg’s rainstorms — so starting Sunday night, the city will begin its fogging program.
“We’re seeing the larvae hatching in the water,” said Thomas Bohm, the operation and safety coordinator and heliport manager for the City of Winnipeg’s insect control branch.
Lately, crews have been checking mosquito traps daily, up from the usual every-three-days regimen.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
The city-wide trap count moved from a medium to high status Saturday, following a city-wide trap count of 138.
The city-wide trap count moved from a medium to high status Saturday, following a city-wide trap count of 138.
Mosquito activity is more frequent now than it has been for several years, Bohm said. Last year, the city didn’t fog for the bugs.
A “significant amount” of rain and difficulties with larvicide efforts have contributed to the problem, Bohm explained.
Environment Canada has clocked 296.3 mm of precipitation in Winnipeg between May 1 and July 12. The city sprays larvicide via ground and aerial crews ahead of and during mosquito season, targeting standing water, but rain and wind have dampened those efforts.
Winnipeg met the criteria for mosquito spraying on Saturday. Conditions include finding more than 100 female adult mosquitoes in one or more quadrants of the city and counting an average of at least 25 female mosquitoes per trap on two consecutive nights.
City crews plan to fog between 9:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. for five nights, weather permitting. Heavy winds and temperatures below 13 C will pause operations.
The city will fog with DeltaGard 20EW, an insecticide approved by Health Canada’s pest management regulatory agency.
City staff will notify residents 24 hours ahead of fogging activities and provide daily updates on where treatments will occur, according to a news release.
Affected Winnipeggers should close their windows and stay indoors while treatment is happening, Bohm noted.
Residents can apply for a buffer zone, meaning DeltaGard won’t be sprayed within 90 metres of their property.
They can apply by sending a letter and photo identification linking them with their address to an online service request on the City of Winnipeg’s website, or by emailing 311@winnipeg.ca, faxing 311, writing to the Insect Control Branch at 3 Grey St. or visiting 1539 Waverley St.
The city requires a 72-hour buffer zone approval turnaround time. Bohm said he’d prioritize approvals in areas being sprayed first.
Residents who’ve applied for a buffer zone in the past must reapply this year.
“We always hope that we don’t have to (fog),” said Bohm. “I hope that we can do enough larviciding to never really have to fog.”
The upcoming round of spraying should consume one-fifth of the city’s DeltaGard. The pesticide isn’t being produced anymore; the city’s insect control branch is doing research on the matter and will present to council in the fall, Bohm relayed.
The city recommends Winnipeggers prevent mosquito hatchings by draining water from eavestroughs, dumping standing water from items like wheelbarrows and bird baths, and covering rainwater collection containers, large pools and water tables, among other things that can’t be drained.
Mosquitoes have been on the radar of Winnipeg residents and visitors this summer.
“Ideally we would… be in a situation where we didn’t have to spray,” said Maria Steeds, who ate lunch at The Forks.
“I do trust the people at city hall,” Steeds continued. “They don’t want to spray any more than we do, but if they feel it’s necessary, then yeah, I would support that.”
She’s invested in mosquito repellents and lavender incense for the first time to combat the pests.
Marc Lougee, who’s from Vancouver, called Manitoba’s mosquitoes “huge and plentiful.” He’s witnessed them during his work trip to the province.
The City of Winnipeg has a nuisance mosquito fogging program map showing areas to be sprayed on its website, at https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/insectcontrol/mosquitoes/nuisanceschedule.stm.
gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com
Gabrielle Piché
Reporter
Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle.
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