It’s a Record Year for Portland Mosquitoes. How Do I Deal?

Mosquitoes are the deadliest creature on the planet. They carry malaria, West Nile virus, and other diseases. They manage to kill off up to a million of us humans a year. For now, local public health officials here aren’t worried about local mosquitoes carrying diseases. (They’re monitoring for that.) But still, public health officials are warning about a record year for the bugs.

Last year was also a record year locally, and this year is expected to be worse. (We can blame the early heat for that woe, too.)

How do I avoid mosquito bites?

🦟 Use insect repellent — particularly kinds containing DEET.

👖 Cover arms and legs with long sleeves and pants. It’s not so convenient for hot weather but may be more comfortable than bites.

🌅  Stay inside during their peak hours — dawn and dusk.

🪟 Repair (or install) screens on your windows and doors.

How do I avoid having mosquitoes?

You may not be able to avoid them entirely, but the best way to prevent them from breeding is to make sure there’s no standing water around. Some tips for doing that:

💧 Get rid of any water that may collect in things like buckets, flowerpots, tires, and wheelbarrows. That may mean throwing things out or turning them upside down. It also means making sure there isn’t garbage underneath bushes, shrubs, or other out-of-the-way spots.

🍁 Clean out your gutters, so water doesn’t collect there.

💧 Make sure outdoor faucets and the hose aren’t leaking.

🐦 Change any water you have outside at least twice a week — like in bird baths, ponds, wading pools, and pet bowls.

🏊 If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, keep the chemicals in balance and the filtration system working.

🐟 This is above and beyond. But if you have an ornamental pond, consider getting a mosquitofish. (For real, that’s the advice of the public health agency.) This species of fish eats mosquitoes for lunch (and other meals).