Mosquito concerns in West Kelowna

When the floodwaters recede, the mosquitoes will rise.

So predict West Kelowna municipal staff, who suggest council immediately budget more money for mosquito control.

Except for a portion of the Rose Valley neighbourhood, there is no mosquito control program in West Kelowna.

“Due to spring flooding, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in breeding sites leading to an increase in the mosquito population,” reads part of a report to council from deputy chief administrative officer Tracey Batten.

“It is recommended that options for additional mosquito control be investigated.”

Batten recommends council issue a request for quotes from companies with experience in mosquito control. Peak mosquito season is typically the middle of June through early July.

As in other municipalities, West Kelowna’s mosquito control program would likely involve the treatment of infested sites on public land, follow-up monitoring, and public education for homeowners to deal with mosquitoes on private land.

In 2012, West Kelowna declined an invitation to participate in a mosquito control program run by the Central Okanagan Regional District.

The program sees larvicide pellets,

said to be environmentally-friendly, put into about 200 known mosquito breeding locations, as well as 18,000 roadside catch basins, in Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, and rural areas.

“The areas that can be treated are specifically licences under provincial regulations,” the regional district says on its website. “For example, larvacide pellets are not to be used in water that is connected to fish-bearing water bodies.”

Overall, the control program is said to be highly effective in curbing mosquito populations, with up to 95 per cent mosquito mortality in treated areas.

“Adult mosquito populations and anecdotal reports from residents,

businesses, golf course operators, and visitors confirmed that adult mosquito annoyance for the great majority of regional district residents, workers, and visitors was minimal or non-existent during 2016,” reads a consultant’s review of last year’s program.

This year, however, could be noticeably different.

“With all the spring rain and flooding in the Central Okanagan, there’s a lot of water sitting around in fields and lowlying areas, which boosts the chances of developing mosquitoes,” says Curtis Fediuk of Duka Environmental Ltd, which has the regional district contract to control mosquitoes.