Cedar Park Launches 'Fight The Bite' To Deter Mosquitoes

CEDAR PARK, TX — Williamson County officials are reminding residents to "Fight the Bite" by safeguarding their properties against mosquitoes.

Stagnant water can yield hotbeds for mosquito breeding, and recent rains only tend to exacerbate the matter. In light of this mosquito-spawning potential, county officials recently outlined tips toward mitigation, dubbing the initiative as "Fight the Bite."

"Mosquitoes breed in standing or stagnant water," officials wrote in a city advisory. "Eliminating places where mosquitoes can breed and reducing the chances of mosquito bites are the most effective lines of defense against exposure to West Nile Virus."

City of Cedar Park.

As part of its "Fight the Bite" campaign, health district officials recommend the 3 Ds of mosquito safety:

• Defend by using an EPA-approved insect repellent;
• Drain standing water in flower pots, pet dishes or clogged gutters so mosquitoes don’t have a place to breed and treat water that can’t be drained; and
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when outdoors.

The Parks and Recreation Department in Cedar Park uses bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) larvicide tablets on public property (such as parks) to treat any standing water that cannot be drained, city officials explained. Bt is a naturally occurring bacteria that is harmless to people and most pets but it interrupts the reproduction cycle of mosquitoes. Residents can find Bt for home use at most “big box” hardware retailers.

In addition, the city’s Code Enforcement Division is focusing its efforts on mosquito abatement throughout the community, Cedar Park officials said. Residents can report stagnant water locations on public or private property to the city's code enforcement division via www.cedarparktexas.gov/ReportaProblem, the CPConnect 2.0 app on mobile devices or by emailing code@cedarparktexas.gov.

Image courtesy of City of Cedar Park.