Town Treats Island Park After Hearing Complaints About Pesky Mosquitoes
Island Park residents have complained about a large population of mosquitoes in the area.
The Portsmouth Department of Public Works (DPW) began treating catch basins after receiving several mosquito complaints from residents in the north end of town.
However, town officials say the mosquito population is "as expected" this year.
"The mosquito population is as anticipated," said David Kehew, DPW director. "We had a high moon tide around the 4th, this coupled with the warm weather is the first round of the adult salt marsh mosquitoes.
"Public works has treated the catch basins and road side drainage ditches throughout town. We treat approximately 2,800 catch basins each year, and still need to treat approximately 200 more basins on the south end of town."
According to Kehew, each year the town hires a pest control company to inspect and treat the "problem areas" in town. Narragansett Pest Control treated problem areas earlier this week.
The treatment is effective, however it does not help with adult mosquitoes, Kehew said. The typical lifespan of an adult mosquito is two weeks.
Do you think the mosquito population is worse this year or better? Tell us in the comment section below!
Tuna man
12:24 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Years ago the whole town was sprayed from the air. This was an effective way to control the mosquitoes and most summers were free of these pests and disease carriers. Plenty of notice about the spraying was given but some dummies always seemed to cry about it for one reason or another and before long the so called organic ways came into being and they never even came close to controlling them.
Spraying from the air is the best way to control them and at least in Southeastern Massachusetts the people and the state realizes this. Too bad the idots and the state of Rhode Island don't understand this. So enjoy your summers indoors.
Petey
9:41 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
EEE hasn't been found in RI this year, but WNV has.
The difference is that EEE is deadly. Mass. is spraying in communities that have HIGH EEE risks. Those towns with moderate risk are not being sprayed. As for Fall River, mosquitoes tend not to do well in urban areas. They need the swampy areas, such as Freetown, Rehoboth, etc.
WNV is a mild illness. It doesn't cause death like EEE can. Another Patch article mentions that WNV was found in only one mosquito pool sample (Westerly). That wouldn't justify spraying, which is terribly costly. Also, spraying to prevent transmission of a mild illness is a bit overkill. There are health effects (known and unknown) from spraying. A little common sense will prevent WNV -- don't go out at dusk, cover yourself, repair screens, etc.
Prevention is way cheaper than treatment.
Glenna Andrade
12:24 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
I'm with Karen on this. Currently, my yard is full of bothersome mosquitoes even though I spray my landscaping at least once a week. I live right up the hill from the Boyd Lane problem, and the people just down the hill from me are very disgruntled.
Robert E
12:29 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
The Stae of Massachusetts does aerial mosquito spraying every year and you can sit out in your yard at night without any repellent. I can remember when I was a kid in Portsmouth they used to spray every year now they don't and you can't even go outside.
karen
2:03 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Well what can we do to get them to do some aerial spraying!!?..I can't take these mosquitos anymore! I have to spray down with bug spray(which doesn't even work,so why bother) just to let out my dog in the middle of the afternoon! then when my dog comes in ,she is covered with them and then brings them in the house! and I am a mad woman trying to kill them in the house, it's an endless cycle...
Bobbi Williamson
6:29 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
We've been indoors much of this season as the mosquito population is MASSIVE!
We have a grill, swing, table,and chairs in our yard to be enjoyed during the warm weather. We've yet to use them........Bobbi Williamson , Island Park
Tuna man
11:23 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Call the town manager and complain. The more people that complain the more likely that the manager and council will get the message. The wheel that squeak's the most gets the grease. And it's not just the Park that has the problem. Common Fence Point has it too. If the manager were to say it's the state that won't let them spray then tell him to get the council to put pressure on the state and get it done. There is no reason not to spray. West Nile has now been found in the state and Triple E not that far away in Taunton and is the reason Massachusetts is spraying the southeastern part of that state. If Mass can spray then why not RI. If you don't get any satisfaction from the town then call all of your state reps. Enough angry people calling them will get their attention very quick and then pressure can be used on DEM to get it done. It used to be so nice in Portsmouth after they did spray every year till a few weenie's complained about the low flying chopper scaring their poor little woof woof and that was the end of it and that is too bad for the people in town.
karen
8:22 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
Tuna Man – How ‘bout it?
I believe the reason the aerial spraying was stopped was due to the numerous complaints from people and groups linking the pesticide to the demise of the lobster population / soft shell disease
karen
12:37 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
Petey...Don't go out at dusk? We can't go out at anytime of day! they are out of control morning, noon and night!
Petey
2:08 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
How is it the town's responsibility? You live in an area that is prone to mosquitoes. Portsmouth has had them for decades. Wet weather and unseasonably warm winters and springs can help the bug population thrive. I'd say spray your own yard. I, for one, do not want pesticides sprayed above my head. What are the long term effects? Howver, if EEE was found, I'd be willing to consider it. Not for WNV in a town on the other side of the state.
TAMORI
3:22 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
Petey – wouldn’t you say that it’s a government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizens? The mosquitoes are an issue for the general population. Pretty much all of Island Park is low-lying land with more standing water than anywhere else in town. But heck…like the mosquitoes, Portsmouth has been getting snow for decades too. If they chose NOT to take care of that would you care? Don’t plow the snow and your citizens get their cars in crashes and get hurt. Don’t take care of the mosquitoes and your citizens get assaulted by them and potentially get sick. Which way do you want it?
Petey
3:58 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
I wouldn't want the town to SPRAY for a pesky bug that does not carry a deadly disease. Snow can be dangerous and accidents kill. Mosquitoes WITHOUT EEE do not kill (WNV is not deadly). Most towns at least drop larvicide discs into drainage basins and culverts. Spray releases toxic chemicals over a population. Not good.
FYI
10:00 am on Monday, July 23, 2012
My son just did a bat house project at Melville for his Eagle rank for Scouts to control mosquitoes down there naturally. Bats are really good for the environment too and are endangered. Bat houses are cheap to make as well. Just a suggestion.
Jill Giggey
10:59 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
FYI - YES! So glad you posted this - Bats are a very effective way of ridding areas of mosquitos and talk about pleasing the envirophobes.... what better way? More bat houses in our area please! (I have two).
karen
10:00 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
so your saying build a bat house and they will come? I've done my research they don't really work. we have a couple of bats that come out at dusk(and we don't have a bat house) the kids find them to be very cool, but have to take cover quickly because they are being eaten alive!! WE need WAY more bats to take care of this problem in portsmouth!
FYI
11:11 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012
Hi Karen, Check out www.batconservation.org. They say a bat house has to be at least 15 feet high, free from obstructions with at least 20 feet of open space, and facing southeast to gain exposure to sunlight. If you did not do this, than that would be why. 1 small bat house can hold 100 bats! They also said it can take up to 3 years to have them come, but if it's built right, I think they would come sooner. The best time to put them up is before the spring and my son put his up during the spring. About 3 weeks ago my son looked at his bat houses and said that at least 1 bat house has occupants. What most people do not know about bats is that they do not make nests, they roost in caves and man-made structures. My suggestion to you is to tell Troop 1 or Troop 82 of Portsmouth Scout Masters and they can suggest a bat house project for their Eagle Scouts for Island Park, free of charge. Hope this helps.
portshater
7:18 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Thanks for spraying only 2 spots in Portsmouth!
Meanwhile the rest of us get eaten alive!
Can't even use the gas grill!
Morons...