Lake Sacajawea is the heart of Longview. It is a beautiful place where people love taking walks, going boating, and enjoying the summer. However, when the weather warms up, this lovely area turns into the perfect home for one very annoying pest: the mosquito.
The truth is that living or playing near a large body of water means you have to be smart about mosquito control. The buzzing and biting only stop when everyone makes the effort, including the local county, homeowners, and professional experts.
If you are tired of mosquitoes ruining your summer, do not wait for the problem to get worse. For effective solutions, call a reputable Longview pest company.
Why Lake Sacajawea is a Mosquito Hotspot
Mosquitoes love water because it helps them grow their population. The Lake Sacajawea area gives them plenty of it. The two most common types that bother Longview residents include the Northern House Mosquito and the Western Encephalitis Mosquito.
These Culex mosquitoes are especially good at finding water in town. They breed in small and hidden spots in neighborhoods.
Think about the water that collects in an old tire, a clogged rain gutter, or even a bucket left outside. Since these pests breed so close to people’s homes, the warm weather and the park’s dense plants create perfect conditions for huge mosquito groups to appear quickly.
The County’s Plan: Cowlitz County Mosquito Control
Luckily, the Cowlitz County Mosquito Control District (CCMCD) is here to help. They work hard from March through October to manage mosquitoes across Longview. The main focus is to stop them before they can begin to fly.
CCMCD’s most important job is to find and treat the larvae. The skilled workers check wet areas, collect mosquito young (larvae), and figure out how bad the problem is. They use larvicides to stop them from growing into biting adults. The CCMCD especially checks the storm drains (catch basins) around the lake because water often sits there.
Further, the CCMCD uses the method of “fogging” to kill adult mosquitoes. For this, they catch a very high number of adult mosquitoes in their traps. They use this method carefully, usually during the evening or very early morning hours. This limits how much it affects the environment while providing fast relief.
Your Home Defense: Simple Steps in Your Own Yard
Although the county handles a major part of the pest control, the fastest and easiest way to stop them is to get rid of standing water. This is something that every homeowner should do. Mosquitos usually do not fly far from where they hatch. Therefore, cleaning up your yard directly lowers the number of pests that bite you.
Here’s a quick weekly checklist for your yard, especially if you live near the lake:
- Tip and toss: Every week, dump out all standing water. This means bird baths, pet water dishes, flower pot trays, and toys.
- Check the roof: Make sure your rain gutters are clean and draining well.
- Fill and fix: Fill in any holes or low spots in the yard that hold water after it rains. Check that the lids on your septic tanks are closed tight.
- Ponds and pools: Keep swimming pool water clean and filtered. If you have a small decorative pond, put in mosquito fish because they love to eat mosquito larvae.
Mosquitoes become very active during the evening hours. So if you go out for a stroll along the lake, remember these three D’s:
- Dress in light-colored long sleeves and pants.
- DEET should be put on any exposed skin.
- Doors and screens must be fixed.
Even with careful work at home, sometimes the job needs professional tools and knowledge. That is where Pointe Pest Control comes in. Pointe Pest Control specializes in full mosquito removal programs created just for the Longview area. Contact them today!
