Health Department Offers Free Mosquito Control Products to Keep Pools and Outdoor Spas Mosquito Free

NEW CITY, NY, - The Rockland County Department of Health announces the availability of free Mosquito Control Products for the 2024 season to help County residents reduce the number of mosquitoes on their property.

Mosquito Dunks® are available, free of charge, for pickup at the Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona. Dunks must be ordered in advance by calling 845-364-3173 or e-mailing wnv@co.rockland.ny.us to arrange a date and time for pickup while supplies last. Visit the Mosquito Control Program webpage for details and to download a printable Order Form. It is important to know the approximate dimensions of your closed/unused pool/spa to ensure you get the correct number of dunks for effective treatment. Please bring the completed and signed form to the pickup location on the arranged day and time.

Mosquito Dunks® are small, donut-shaped objects that float on standing water and release bacteria that kill mosquitoes before they can become flying, biting adults. The Health Department provides them to County residents to use in closed or unused private swimming pools and spas. Dunks are effective on wet surfaces for approximately 30 days. A single dunk will treat an area of about 100 square feet of standing water. Always follow the label instructions when using Mosquito Dunks® or any other pesticide.

The Health Department plans to have Fathead minnows available for a one-day-only giveaway on Wednesday, May 8^th, from 4:30-6:00 pm at the Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, 50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona. There will be signs posted on Sanatorium Road to direct you to the giveaway location. Please visit the Mosquito Control Program webpage regularly for updates. You can reserve the minnows now online, e-mailing wnv@co.rockland.ny.us to receive a printable order form, or by calling 845-364-3173.

Fathead minnows are small fish that eat mosquito larvae before they become flying, biting adults. They can eat up to 200 mosquito larvae per day. These minnows can be placed in unused swimming pools, ornamental ponds, and other similar areas that have a minimum of eight inches of water. It is not necessary to stock these fish in streams and rivers, as mosquitoes do not typically lay eggs in moving water. Care should be taken not to stock fish in fishless waters that may be used by amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, for breeding.

"We encourage residents to take advantage of these free mosquito control products to help control the mosquito population and protect ourselves and the community from vector-borne diseases. Remember, the most effective mosquito control begins in your own backyard, so be sure to check around your property for any items that can hold water and store them in a manner that prevents them from collecting water," said Amy Isenberg, Environmental Health Specialist, Mosquito Program Coordinator.

For more information, visit the Rockland County Health Department Mosquito Control Program webpage.

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