First and foremost, you are the most important and direct line of defense to protect your family (PDF) from illnesses transmitted by mosquitoes.

Annual Mosquito Abatement Program

The city of Alabaster has resumed its annual mosquito abatement program, normally happening from April through September. The city will be spraying possibly breeding sites, within the public rights of way, that may transmit diseases such as West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Chikungunya. Chikungunya is a disease that is indigenous to Africa and has recently shown up in the Caribbean. Like many of the mosquitoes that transmit illnesses that we are familiar with, the mosquitoes that are its' primary vector are container breeders. Container breeders are often called the "Backyard" mosquitoes and are most prevalent around peoples homes. There is no more risk for this disease than any other mosquito transmitted illness.

Treatments

The City truck sprays all public rights of way on a weekly rotation early in the morning hours. It is the responsibility of each property/home owner to eliminate or empty all containers that could possibly contain mosquito larvae, sometimes called "Wigglers." The city will treat breeding sites in public areas, that can not be eliminated, with natural and biological controls for safe, effective, and environmentally responsible suppression of immature mosquitoes. The city will treat with Ultra-Low-Volume sprayers to reduce adult mosquito populations. The products used are approved by the USDA, EPA, and the World Health Organization to reduce risk associated with mosquito born illnesses. The products used are designed to be effective at less than 1 oz. Per acre. Treatments are made during peak mosquito activity periods to maximize effectiveness and reduce the possibility of exposure to bees and other non-target insects.

Control measures and treatments employed by the city are designed to reduce adult and breeding populations. These treatments are in addition to, but not in the replacement of, the measures that individuals can implement to protect yourself, your family, and your pets. There is no way to kill all mosquitoes within the city. We can focus on prevention by reducing adult populations to therefore reduce disease transmission.

Tips to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard

1. Remove Standing Water: Adult mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant or slow-moving water, so eliminating these water sources can prevent future generations of these pests from calling your yard home.
2. Toss and Turn the Stuff in Your Yard: Remove excess grass, leaves, firewood, and clippings from your yard. Mosquitoes like dark patches of foliage because it serves as a place for them to rest.
3. Grow Your Own Repellents: If you're interested in more natural ways to keep mosquitoes away, there are many plants with mosquito-repelling properties. You may have seen citronella candles, but some gardeners suggest growing the plant itself. Consider also growing pennyroyal, a plant in the mint family that mosquitoes hate because of the smell (ants and mice hate it, too). Basil and lemongrass are also two good choices, which have higher concentrations of citronella in its oils. Catnip is another choice which has oils that can be as effective as DEET.
4. Add Mosquito-Eating Species to Your Environment: If you've got a pond, adding fish like bluegills, minnows, green sunfish, and gambusia can help control mosquitoes in water.
5. Wear Bright Colors: Dark clothing attracts mosquitoes, so wear bright-colored clothing when spending time outdoors. (It's more seasonal, anyway!) Keep fabrics looser, too, because some mosquitoes can bite through tighter-fitting clothing.
6. Protecting Yourself While Outdoors: Before stepping outside, spray an insect repellent on exposed skin. The Center for Disease Control has identified three ingredients that are effective as long-lasting insect repellents: DEET, Picaridin, and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.