By Samantha McCarthy—For the North Star Reporter
Town Manager Michael Borg and Health Director Anne Marie Flemming have announced that North Attleborough residents can now request mosquito adulticide.
The Bristol County Mosquito Control Project (BCMCP) will be doing area-wide spraying if high populations of mosquitoes are detected in traps, but residents are also able to put in individual requests. Residents are also able to put in an exclusion request if they would not like their residence to be sprayed.
Duet, the spray that is being used, is made up of two synthetic pyrethroids that are able to kill mosquitoes. These chemicals are safe for both dogs and children and act in a low-volume manner. Spraying will begin on June 9 between the hours of 2 a.m. and sunrise.
“It’s ultra low volume, so that means small droplets over a larger area. Our application rate is 6.2 ounces per acre, so that’s half of a shot glass in a football field,” said Priscilla Matton, superintendent of BCMCP.
This program is being funded through cherry sheet deductions of the member towns and cities.
With peak mosquito season approaching, Matton shared the most important ways to stay clear of bites.
“Avoid activities when mosquitoes are most active, which is normally dusk and dawn. Dress appropriately if you can—long sleeves, long pants. Use EPA approved repellents such as DEET, and drain or dump standing water on your property, that will help reduce mosquitoes that may be breeding,” said Matton.
Matton calls this advice ‘The Five Ds of Protection’- dusk, dawn, dress, DEET, and dump/drain.
To make a request, call 508-823-5253 or e-mail RequestBristolMCP@comcast.net. Residents are asked to include their last name and full address, including zip code, in their request. Please note that a request is for one application and not for the whole season. If you need to have an additional application, please send another request with the same information.
Residents can find more information on www.mass.gov/eea/bristolcountymosquitocontrol, including a tentative spray schedule for which towns are done each day. An updated list of street names will be posted daily for residents to see if their location is on the schedule for the following spray day. All this information is weather-dependent and can change if needed due to mosquito populations or virus detection