It’s National Mosquito Awareness Week

Those pesky, biting, annoying little blood sucking bugs are back. Oh....yay.

Health officials warn us every year that mosquitoes carry nasty diseases like Zika and West Nile virus. These can also affect birds, animals, reptiles and more. There is also no human vaccine for West Nile Virus.

So...what do you do? Well, for starters, check your property for standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so if you eliminate areas like that, you eliminate the mosquito larvae the grow up and buzz around to ruin your next backyard BBQ. If you can't eliminate all the standing water, you can purchase mosquitoe "cakes" that don't harm the environment, but kill off the mosquito larvae. Their available at most stores that carry outdoor living items.

The Ada County Mosquito Abatement District also says to practice the "3 D's"

• Drain - eliminate the standing water that can serve as breeding grounds.
• Dress - wear appropriate clothing while outdoors.
• Defend - use EPA approved repellents to keep them away from you, your kids and your pets.

If you need or want more information about mosquitoes and the risk they create, like West Nile or Zika, or...to contact the Ada County Mosquito Abatement District you can reach out the them. Here's their contact info:

Ada County Weed, Pest & Mosquito Abatement
975 E. Pine Avenue
Meridian, ID 83646
(208) 577-4646
weedandpest@adaweb.net

So...fight the good fight against these nasty, blood-sucking, biting nusiances!

Have a great summer!